A relocatee shares how others can make friends and get involved in their new community.
By Brittany VanDerBill, Livability on February 8, 2024
Megan Jenniges
While relocating to a new community brings a sense of adventure and excitement, it also comes with a few challenges. Most people must find a new friend group, start a new job, learn how to get around and settle into a new routine. Thankfully, Owatonna, MN, makes life post-move a breeze. Located off Interstate 35 about an hour south of Minneapolis, this city is well-connected, united and known for going the extra mile – whether that be supporting entrepreneurs, helping students prepare for the workforce or embracing newcomers.
Megan Jenniges, who moved to the community in 2018, shares how relocatees can quickly make friends and get connected in Owatonna, MN. Jenniges, who relocated from La Crosse, WI, is a systems developer at Federated Insurance and serves as the chair of Y-Pro, a young professionals network through the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce.
Why did you relocate to Owatonna?
I got a job here in Owatonna out of college, which was about a month after I graduated. I grew up in a town smaller than Owatonna (Durand, WI), and Owatonna has that small-town feel while also being bigger than what I was used to. That, along with my job at Federated Insurance, was what brought me here in 2018.
How did you start getting involved in the community?
When I started at Federated Insurance, there were about 14 other college graduates hired along with me. This was very helpful for just getting to know people and for helping me get out into the community to learn more about Owatonna. Federated offers a lot of volunteer opportunities for employees, and they’re just very connected with the community. I would hear about connection opportunities through work a lot of times.
I also got a free pass to join Y-Pro when I moved here and was able to explore and meet other people in the community. That’s basically how I got involved with the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce.
What is Y-Pro and what does it have to offer?
Our focus at Y-Pro is to prepare young professionals to lead or become future leaders. We offer a few different kinds of events, including networking events that involve all of our passholders. These events are more like social activities. They help people meet other people in the community and learn more about employers outside of their own.
Y-Pro offers lunch and learn events that are focused on professional and personal development, which ties into our focus of building future leaders. We also have volunteer events, and we usually do some sort of fitness event, which can also fall under social opportunities.
Hops for Habitat, Courtesy of: Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
What other volunteer opportunities are available in Owatonna?
Owatonna has several ways to volunteer, such as Community Pathways, (which helps Steele County and surrounding area residents combat food and clothing insecurity). There are multiple groups that serve free meals to the community every week, including the St. Vincent dePaul Society that I volunteer with.
I’ve also volunteered through Junior Achievement, (a nonprofit that provides students with experiential learning opportunities), which is pretty big in Owatonna. Another big thing that Federated Insurance is really involved in is the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in Southern Minnesota. Though I haven’t volunteered as a “Big Sister,” I have helped out with some of the daily events they host. It’s so nice for the community to have this program.
What is Owatonna’s social scene like for young professionals?
We have a couple of breweries, which can be good for after-work happy hours. And one of the main social opportunities in Owatonna is the different sports leagues. In the summer, there’s sand volleyball, which a lot of people are involved in. Bowling league is pretty big, as well, and that goes on all winter long. There are also winter volleyball and curling leagues. I think a lot of young professionals are involved in these leagues, which, of course, are another way to socialize. Depending on what type of league you join, that can mean you have an activity planned for every day of the week, if you want.
Do you feel that Owatonna is a well-connected and inviting community?
Overall, I’d say Owatonna is pretty connected and inviting. In my experience, I think a part of that is how connected Federated Insurance is to the community. Plus, I started working there with so many other young people at the same time and got to know them right away. And the organizations I’ve volunteered for or worked with, like the chamber and Y-Pro, have always been very inviting.
Pickleball, Courtesy of: Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
What advice do you have for newcomers?
I know it’s pretty cliché, but just choosing to get involved in things was very helpful for me. Even playing sand volleyball, you’ll just get to know people and recognize more people around town. For me, that’s been very helpful, and it created a more inviting feel. Through Y-Pro, I’ve learned a lot about other employers and what other people are doing for their jobs. Learning things like that just makes you more well-rounded.
Also, I think when some people first move here, they may be expecting Owatonna to entertain them. But as someone new to the community, I’d suggest that you work on trying something new or finding a new hobby. There are many opportunities for volunteering or connecting or networking, but you do get out of it what you put into it. As an individual, it’s helpful if you put in some effort to find what interests you and try new things to get involved in the community.
This article was sponsored by the Owatonna Partners for Economic Development.
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