Taelyr Blehm could have stayed in Kansas. When the KU senior accepted a position as a community organizer with the DART Network — an interfaith advocacy organization focusing on social justice — she had the option to work in Kansas City, Kansas, or Lawrence. Instead, she headed to Ft. Lauderdale. “I really appreciate some of my more rural beginnings. I spent summers on the farm, I knew the same people from preschool all the way through high school,” she said. “But I feel like the town I’m from perfectly represents the stagnation of Kansas as a state.” Blehm, a 21-year-old Russell native, is part of a continuing and possibly increasing generational exodus, as college-age students and graduates pursue opportunities elsewhere. Young Kansans leave for a mix of reasons. Many, like Blehm, are drawn to bigger, more diverse cities. Others seek livelier social scenes, even if that means moving across the state line to Kansas City.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
