Saturday kicks off a whole week of neat stuff for Wilmington millennials

Hey, Wilmington young professionals, there’s a whole upcoming week devoted to you: Saturday kicks off Wilmington YP Week, and the City of Wilmington, the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League Young Professionals and Accelerate Delaware have planned a bunch of events through May 14.
First up is the YP Leadership, Entrepreneurs, Advocates & Doers (L.E.A.D.) Workshop from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Wilmington Public Library.
Speakers will talk about branding, networking and advocacy, and the keynote is Pedro Moore, the executive director of the Delaware Innovation Fund who’s in the throes of launching First State Angels next week.
Another event of interest is the Movers and Shakers Networking Breakfast and Panel Discussion on May 10 from 8 a.m. to noon at the coIN Loft.
The panelists:

• Chris Buccini, co-president of The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc., and founder and president of BPG Real Estate Services, LLC
• Lisa Blunt Rochester, former Delaware Secretary of Labor and U.S. Congressional candidate
• Rick Deadwyler, director of government relations at the University of Delaware
• The Hon. Natalie Haskins, Delaware Family Court judge
• Mona Parikh, tech community liaison for UD’s Horn Program in Entrepreneurship and managing director of Start it Up Delaware

It’s free — and breakfast is provided — but registration is required.
Check out the YP Week’s website for all of the events, but we’ll also note that Accelerate Delaware organizers are inviting young professionals to the organization’s official launch party May 14. Tickets cost $40, and the event starts at 7 p.m. at the Community Education Building Atrium. Accelerate Delaware is aiming to get the First State’s business leaders and young professionals all in one, happy, networky place. Following dinner is a party led by DJ Aktive.
Accelerate Delaware, a brainchild of the Longwood Foundation, is seeking to attract millennials to Delaware.
“Accelerate Delaware will be the state’s first nonprofit to examine the root causes of why young professionals decline the opportunity to live and work (in) Delaware,” according to a release.
To start, the group has outlined a bunch of initiatives, which include:

• Developing an app with Zip Code Wilmington and 1313 Innovation that sends push notifications and discounts for social events and local activities.
• Working with local businesses to offer young professionals board engagement, mentorship, receptions with TEDxWilmington speakers and panel discussions.
• Connecting young professionals with business leaders at events like curated dinners and career fairs.
• Setting up young professionals to work as consultants with local businesses.
• Developing a Certification in Executive Leadership at local universities for young professionals to learn about business, leadership and interpersonal skills.