New video highlights Young Professionals in Montgomery - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Young professionals are making an impact on the city of Montgomery-- that's the message of a new promotional video called Montgomery 2.0.

The video targets young people, hoping they will seize the opportunities and fun the city has to offer.

It was dreamed up by this year's Leadership Montgomery class with the goal to attract and retain talented young professionals in the city and erase any preconceived notions of what they think Montgomery is like.

From start to finish, the nearly five minute video features a string of successful young leaders.  Executives, doctors, and accountants, to name a few, talk about what Montgomery is like, sharing their true life stories of success.  Jason Goodson, the President of Emerge Montgomery, is featured in the piece.  Emerge is an organization that connects young professionals, helping them to get informed and involved in what is happening in the city.

"We want everyone to use this video, for businesses and universities to share it on their web sites and social media tools to say, this is a great community.  We want you here, we want you working here and contributing to the growth of this city," Goodson said.

Goodson says, in addition to the video's goal of attracting young people to Montgomery, it also highlights the city's focus on embracing emerging leaders, giving them a voice in shaping the future of Montgomery.

"It's been really exciting, because not only do we have a voice, but they come to us and ask us what we want to see.  And these things actually take place and happen," Goodson added.

"That's pretty unique.  I think larger communities and even communities our size have not provided that opportunity.  So we are just really fortunate to have the leadership that we have," said Lynn BeShear.

BeShear is the Executive Director of Envision 2020, a strategic planning effort for the River Region.  She was part of the group who first energized the young professional movement in the city about six years ago.

BeShear said, "It's been really fun to be a part of that.  To be part of the generation of [Baby] Boomers that set the tone, and now we are in the process of starting to pass that torch."

BeShear cites numerous projects and initiatives these young leaders have had a part in making successful, especially the ongoing downtown rebirth.

Jason Goodson said, "Right now, there are so many great things happening in Montgomery.  And we think if we can take and highlight those things and show people what we have here, they will want to come and join in as well."

A city, Goodson says, that is working to create a vibrant working class, with the help and vision of the next generation.

The Montgomery 2.0 video was funded by sponsorships from several local businesses.  It was produced by LWT, a brand identity, advertising, marketing, and web development company in Montgomery.  It was created to have the same look and feel as the Capital of Dreams commercial the city is already using.

Here is a link to the full five minute "Montgomery 2.0." http://vimeo.com/45270169