South Bend non-profit looks to turn 'brain drain' into 'brain gain'

Tuesday, June 28th 2016

by Danielle Kennedy, WSBT 22 Reporter

SOUTH BEND — Turning brain drain into brain gain.

It's the goal of a South Bend non-profit group that recruits young people to work in South Bend.

Keeping college grads in our community can be a challenge. Studies have shown that Indiana ranks 14th nationally when it comes to attracting students but 48th when it comes to retaining them.

That's why organizations like enFocus and the county Chamber of Commerce are focusing hard on recruiting young talent and giving them opportunities to directly impact the communities they live in.

It's not your typical idea of a summer internship.

Water rafting on the East Race with a bunch of people you barely know.

"A lot of us are networking and connecting at professional events and it's just a great opportunity to network at fun events as well," said intern, Samantha Petersen.

There are roughly 90 interns working with enFocus and the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce this summer.

They'll get hands on experience working with local businesses who in turn will have access to top talent-- something our area has been working hard to attract and retain.

"We lose talent to Google, we lose talent to Apple, Silicon Valley is pertinent on the tongues of any recent graduate that has aspirations and dreams. Everyone wants to be a Steve Jobs, so, we work really hard to create the change that is attractive," said Executive Director of enFocus, Andrew Wiand.

But in the past four years enFocus has seen that change.

Fellows and interns have been working closely on community projects like bringing wifi downtown or promoting local entrepreneurship.

"We're only as strong as the partnerships we create where the community itself accepts the innovation," Wiand said.

Partnerships with the University of Notre Dame and the City of South Bend and the opportunities that come along with it, like utilizing new technology at Innovation and Ignition Park.

"That builds these relationships for these kids and that makes them wanna come back and grow our community. They see they can make positive change here in doing that and I think that's really, incredibly powerful," said Kate Lee with the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce.

And sometimes just as fun as a night out on the water.

Many of the students who work with enFocus are Notre Dame graduates.

The organization says that partnership has allowed them to put South Bend on a national map when it comes to innovation.

Many of the interns who work with the St. Joseph County Chamber move on to work with larger companies like AM General.