I just came across an inspiring article in the New Orleans Times-Picayune about young professionals moving to New Orleans after college graduation to help with the city's ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Although the city is still plagued with horrible problems--including the fact that many people who want to return to the city can't do so--these young professionals, some who grew up in New Orleans and many who did not, are helping to make a difference. They are working in urban planning, community development, health, education and many other realms. They've even earned their own nickname: YURPs -- Young Urban Rebuilding Professionals. The article says: Although the influx is by no means massive, it is substantial enough that experts cite plenty of anecdotal evidence that New Orleans, cast nationally as a place where many residents have not returned and others are still mulling whether to leave, is quietly attracting young people drawn by a sense of purpose. Wanting purpose in one's work is a hallmark of Generation Y, and a characteristic that always impresses me when I meet college students and recent grads. Congratulations to the YURPs in New Orleans, and I hope they inspire more people--young and old--to give back and make a difference. Read the full article here.