Area 20-and 30-somethings who want to remain in the Buffalo area turned out Thursday evening to offer messages of promise.

The event, “I Will Stay If . . .” — part of an initiative launched by the Great Lakes Urban Exchange (GLUE) — brought more than 100 young adults to the Century Grill in downtown Buffalo to provide area leaders answers about keeping young people from moving away.

GLUE is a 2-year-old network of young leaders committed to revitalizing Rust Belt cities by addressing issues of mutual concern, including population loss and sustainable economic activity. The group launched a similar campaign in Detroit earlier this year.

“This is about getting young people in our area to lend their voice to the ongoing conversation about how to keep people here [in Buffalo],” said Phil Pantano, an event organizer.

Suggestions included lower taxes, a commitment to a green economy or a sustainable city, well-paying jobs and a revitalized waterfront.

Emily DiLonardo, 21, of Amherst, pledged her future to Buffalo if she “can find a job that helps [her] get to the top.”

DiLonardo, along with the others, wrote their pledges one-by- one on a placard and held them up for individual photos, to be used in a photo exhibit and shared with local, state and national policymakers.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure [Buffalo] is all we want it to be, especially if it’s where we want to be,” said Di- Lonardo, 21, a senior marketing and international business major at the University at Buffalo.

DiLonardo is currently interning for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, promoting the area to young people on cyber venues including FaceBook and Twitter.

For Buffalo native Alexander G. Foote, 25, lead guitarist for the local band Free Henry!, committing to Western New York is easy.

“[Buffalo] has a pretty diverse cultural scene for young, creative people,” Foote said. “That’s one of the things that keeps me here.”

Foote doesn’t believe the city is it truly appreciated for its role in nurturing young creative writers, artists and musicians.

“I think they need to get [the message] out,” Foote said.

Rather than leaving local leaders and policymakers scratching their heads about the loss of young professionals, Thursday’s gathering shed light on what it will take to keep them here.

Sara Emhof, an event organizer and GLUE representative, also attended a similar event in Pittsburgh.

The idea, Emhof said, is to get “people to state clearly what’s missing here. They want to stay [and the event tells policymakers,] ‘This is what I need to stay.’”