Power Up Tonganoxie is starting up in an effort to follow the PowerUp movement happening elsewhere in Kansas.

The PowerUp movement, as the Kansas Sampler Foundation defines it, recognizes the value of PowerUps (residents ages 21-39) who have made a conscious decision to embrace and enhance the rural communities in which they live.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. today at the Tonganoixe Recreation Commission office, 521 E. Fourth Street.

The foundation had a January retreat in Tonganoxie at which about 25 folks from across the state gathered with local residents to engage with the “power up” demographic.

According to the Sampler Foundation, the retreat was designed to “figure out how all ages can work together, benefit from each other’s strengths improve quality of life and move a community forward.”

Shawn Linenberger, who helped in organizing the local retreat, is working to start PowerUp Tonganoxie.

Linenberger, who volunteered at the Kansas Sampler Festival when it was in Leavenworth, attended the foundation’s Big Rural Brainstorm earlier this year and two years ago in Newton.

He said he’s seen what other communities have done in the way of the PowerUp movement and wants to see whether something similar could take place in Tonganoxie.

“The community certainly has many in that age range who can contribute and bring ideas for Tonganoxie’s future,” Linenberger said.

He noted that those who are 40 and older also are welcome to attend the meeting. Linenberger said one PowerUp group elsewhere in the state continued to up the age requirements as the group’s president continued to move over the 40-year-old plateau.

“All are welcome to attend what’s hoped to be the first of many meetings,” Linenberger said.