Kate Warren, 25, grew up in Richmond, but after leaving for college in New York's Hudson Valley, she hasn't moved back. Now based in Washington, D.C., Warren works as a professional photographer.
She says she's interested in a career and lifestyle that wouldn't be possible in Vermont.
On diversity
"D.C. is very diverse. When you look at the demographics, Vermont has barely two percent people who are African-American. D.C. has 49 percent people who are African-American. There's a large international community in Washington. So you're getting a lot of different points of view, different perspectives."
"Having a large span of perspectives to draw upon both creatively and socially, I think makes me a better person. It makes communities more robust and it's something that really drew me to the area."
"People come from a lot of different backgrounds. To me, that diversity is really important. Having a large span of perspectives to draw upon both creatively and socially, I think makes me a better person. It makes communities more robust and it's something that really drew me to the area."
On settling down
"People tend to come to D.C. on a mission, whether for grad school or for a very important job that's a step on their career ladder. They usually have a lot of things they want to get out of the way before they 'settle down' and start a family. But my friends who have stayed here and never left definitely start having those conversations earlier than the friends I have in Washington."
On why she isn't likely to return to Vermont
"I definitely couldn't do my job, as it exists now, in Vermont. I have friends who are photojournalists or advertising photographers who are based in Vermont. But their lifestyle and the type of clients they have are much different than what I have and what I'm interested in having."
"My friends who work in Vermont have very well-rounded, very balanced lives. I would not start off my description of them by saying they are gunning on their career."
On ambition
"For me, I was interested in being part of a young professional community of people who are very ambitious and very driven in their career. My friends who work in Vermont have very well-rounded, very balanced lives. I would not start off my description of them by saying they are gunning on their career."
Note: for more information on Vermont's demographics, see this census data.
