“Pittsburgh is the next Brooklyn.” – Brooklyn Based
“Pittsburgh is one of the world’s most livable cities.” – Metropolis Magazine
“Pittsburgh is the new cool.” – Forbes
“All the cool kids are moving to Pittsburgh.”- Made in PGH
…I’m sold on this city. And yes, I’m a millennial.
But it wasn’t that way at first. And here is my story:
Almost two years ago, I moved to Washington, D.C. because I wanted to continue my studies in strategic communication. I wanted to get away from Pittsburgh, the city overshadowed by its sports obsession and “yinzer” slang. I thought moving out of Pittsburgh and immersing myself in a different city would help me become a great public relations professional. It certainly did, but not in the way I expected it to.
My enlightenment to move back to Pittsburgh happened one day when I was sitting in a small coffee shop on Connecticut Avenue. I was taking a homework break and ordered a large iced coffee with an extra shot of espresso (because this is the typical millennial thing to do). I was browsing through my social media platforms, and noticed Pittsburgh was trending. Out of curiosity, I investigated some more. I saw articles about the Pittsburgh art scene growing, 13 new things to do in Pittsburgh this summer, new restaurants popping up all over the city, Pittsburgh being a top-ranking affordable city, why Pittsburgh is being compared to Brooklyn, etc. etc.
I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was planning to stay in D.C. … however this curious discovery of mine was a game changer.
Shocked at my changed perspective of my home city, I finished my coffee and got back to work. While I was researching in depth about health communication behavioral topics, I couldn’t help but imagine myself working for a PR firm in Pittsburgh. What is it about Pittsburgh that makes it so appealing? Why did I suddenly want to move back?
…Everything.
I finished my master’s last spring and moved back to Pittsburgh a few weeks after I graduated. Moving back to Pittsburgh was the best decision I ever made.
As a millennial in Pittsburgh, the living is fabulous. Here are a few examples:
- Rent is not crippling like most cities.
- Everyone is friendly, genuine and has a strong sense of community.
- The restaurant scene has exponentially increased, meaning there is more variation to Instagram a picture of your lunch.
- More running and bike trails have been developed because Pittsburgh is the city of athletic champions.
- Job opportunities are out of this world, and “business is booming,” as Antonio Brown states (obligatory Steeler reference).
Aside from the living perks of Pittsburgh, having this outside perspective of the city helped me professionally. I recently landed a job “dahntahn,” or as non-Pittsburghers would say, “downtown.”
I am an Assistant Account Executive for WordWrite Communications.
Having the opportunity to grow as a PR professional in an emerging city is beyond exciting. I work with many clients, who come from different industries with different needs, perspectives and stories. Getting to know each client and sharing their stories across multimedia platforms is beyond rewarding. Many of my clients are aware Pittsburgh is “the next big thing,” so seeing their excitement is another perk of working as a PR pro.
Being a PR professional in Pittsburgh is unique. New York will always be New York. Chicago will always be Chicago. Los Angeles will always be Los Angeles. Unlike well-established cities, PR pros in Pittsburgh face a challenge to help shape the future identity of Pittsburgh and share its story with the world.
Millennials like making a difference in the workforce, and I feel as if I am making a difference. I am happy to contribute to shaping Pittsburgh’s identity and watching it grow.
So yes, the articles I read almost two years ago in that coffee shop are indeed true. Pittsburgh is a millennial-friendly city.
I am happy in my job and in my city. To me, those are the two key ingredients of living a happy, millennial life.
I’m curious to know some of your favorite aspects of living in Pittsburgh! Please comment below and let’s get a conversation started!
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Livia Vissat is an assistant account executive at WordWrite Communications. She can be reached at livia.vissat@wordwritepr.com, or on Twitter @liviavissat.
