YPC Played It Loud @ 80/35
8th Annual 80/35 Music Festival
Thousands made their way to the Western Gateway Park this past weekend for the 8th annual 80/35 Music Festival. If you were rocking out and taking in the sunshine at 80/35 you might have passed the Young Professionals Connection (YPC) Chalk Boards. YPC’s display was set up across the street from the Iowa Public Radio Live Sessions. Our prime location gave Friday’s volunteers a front row seat to the IPR Damon Dotson and Brazilian 2wins sets.
How Festivalgoers Seize DSM
Festivalgoers of all ages stopped by the YPC display and left their mark on our walls. YPC asked festivalgoers to share How they #SeizeDesMoines. Most popular responses included: Bike Trails, Local Brews, Farmers’ Market, and Public Art. By Saturday afternoon the boards were completely covered with reasons why people love DSM. DSM natives weren’t the only ones to leave a mark on the walls, guests from Colorado, Kansas, and Alaska also stopped by. Our most popular guest was Emma, President-Elect Cory Sharp’s white lab!
80/35 Volunteers 
YPC had a great team of volunteers prepping for and volunteering at 80/35. Big THANK YOU to: Cory Sharp, Chris Wood, Kerry Burrows Wood, Becky Sidles, Rachel Cuthbert, Jana Pugh, Ryan Spence, Abby Rodewald, Evan Schultz, Jenny Eckley, Mandy McWherter, Paige Hubbard, Dina Kahrimanovic, Macy McDole, Jason Merkley, John Merkley, Rich Booms, and Ryan Bruner.
If you missed the YPC Chalk Walls @ 80/35 don’t fear you’ll find the walls at upcoming YPC events!
Alyssa Nicolai is the YPC 2015 Impact Downtown chair. Find out more about the Impact Downtown Committee here.
Young Professionals Connection (YPC)
The Young Professionals Connection (YPC) promotes an environment that attracts and retains young professionals in Greater Des Moines (DSM). YPC connects young professionals to each other and to the community through social, civic, charitable and professional development endeavors. YPC members have unique opportunities to grow personally and professionally and forge lasting relationships. They engage, connect and form a foundation for their future in DSM. YPC is an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Partnership.