• Search for:

    Home

    1. Home

    Young leaders collaborating at a community workshop

    UpDayton

    Community Innovation & Young Leaders Network • projects with purpose • skills that stick • impact you can see

    Welcome to the Home of Doers

    UpDayton is a launchpad for emerging leaders who want to make Dayton more vibrant, inclusive, and opportunity-rich. We connect ideas with resources, talent with mentors, and teams with the skills to turn “someone should do that” into “we did.” From neighborhood pilots to citywide collaborations, our network helps you learn by leading.

    Join a project team, pitch a solution, or level up your leadership—this is where momentum lives.

    Volunteer team mapping ideas with sticky notes

    Hands stacking together in teamwork

    Community-First Projects

    We incubate ideas that solve local challenges—public space, arts activation, transit access, small-business boosts, and more.

    Workshop with laptops and notepads

    Leadership in Practice

    Hands-on workshops in facilitation, budgeting, storytelling, and stakeholder mapping—so you build real capability.

    City street activation with art and people

    Outcomes You Can See

    We measure what matters—volunteer hours, dollars mobilized, and community feedback that guides the next iteration.

    What We Offer

    • Project Incubator: pitch, prototype, and pilot with coaching and microgrants.
    • Skill Sprints: short, high-impact trainings—grant writing, data for good, public speaking.
    • Mentor Circles: monthly small-group sessions with civic, nonprofit, and startup leaders.
    • Civic Collabs: cross-sector partnerships to scale what works across neighborhoods.

    Who Joins UpDayton

    Students, early-career pros, creatives, founders, and neighbors who believe in building the city they want to live in.

    • New to Dayton and want to plug in fast.
    • Have an idea and need a team and roadmap.
    • Looking for leadership experience that translates to work—and impact.

    Our Impact (Snapshot)

    1500+
    Young leaders engaged
    120+
    Projects & events launched
    $500k+
    Resources mobilized
    90%
    Report growth in skills

    *Illustrative metrics—update with current data.

    Jump In—Three Easy Paths

    1. Join a Team: pick an active project and contribute your skills weekly or monthly.
    2. Pitch an Idea: submit a challenge and workshop it with mentors and peers.
    3. Host or Sponsor: share expertise, space, or support to accelerate impact.
    Public event with speakers and community audience

    Kickoff Meetup

    Monthly orientation to meet project leads, learn about open roles, and get matched to teams.

    Skill Sprint: Grant Basics

    A 90-minute crash course in framing need, outcomes, and budgets that win support.

    Neighborhood Pilot Day

    Test quick wins—pop-up art, clean-ups, wayfinding—then gather feedback to iterate.

    Young leader smiling at community event

    “UpDayton gave me the network and confidence to lead my first project. We made something real—and I grew faster than I expected.”

    — Project Lead, Alumni Cohort