Denton councilman: Too many Denton graduates leave the city after school

by Emily Bentley of North Texas Daily

• Tweet
• Email
• Print
• 0 Comments

The community met to find ways to retain young minds.

Photo by Sandra Li

DENTON — Denton is widely known as a home to music, the arts and other creative endeavors. Its population and standing in North Texas continue to grow, and people flock to the city for its vibrant art scene, nurtured in part by UNT students.

However, some Denton residents have lamented that too many graduates leave the city in search of creative careers.

Hosted by city councilman Kevin Roden, the “Denton Creatives Mixer” tried to address that issue. UNT alumni, musicians and artists met at Oak St. Drafthouse on Monday night to discuss how to keep creative young people in the city after graduation.

“Too many creative people come to school in Denton, fall in love with this city and are forced to leave after they graduate because of lack of opportunities in careers for them,” Roden said. “It’s a tragic brain drain for Denton when we lose such valuable, innovative minds.”

Roden hoped to spark talk about new opportunities for graduates of UNT and Texas Woman’s University. He said the mixer created a conversation where Denton residents could collaborate on ways to make the city a more permanent home for career-seeking graduates.

“I would love to make [Denton] my permanent home,” radio, television and film senior Tracy Maline said. “However, because of the career I want, in order to be successful I need to move somewhere in the Metroplex.”

Conversation focused on ideas to bring new business to Denton, including a plan to launch a website forum to connect local artists.

Pegasus News Content partner - North Texas Daily