My little corner of the universe is a city named Dallas. If you haven't ever visited this now all grown
up little prairie town, you should. She is world class, a true international
gem. Even if you haven't stopped by in a few years, come back, and prepare to
be impressed. If you've lived here for a while, like a child that has grown up
before your eyes, it happened all around you and you hardly noticed; but here
she is, something very special, a very shiny city with so much promise. What
shall our child do with herself? There is so much opportunity! Much of which
lies in how we take care of our less shiny parts.
All around there is an
architectural feast. The performing arts venues, the visual art museums and
galleries, including the Nasher Sculpture Center, which by itself put the
moniker of "world class city" in conversation, all are brilliantly
designed and curating the best in their art forms. High-rise buildings down, up
and all around town have created a skyline to rival any other. Residential,
commercial and public buildings by the world’s most renowned architects abound.
The new Klyde Warren Park, bridging downtown to uptown is a testament to
the drive of the people and leaders in the city. It also serves as a keynote
for a city that has set aside more green-space than any other in the country.
Speaking of bridges, the
Margaret Hunt Hill (Santiago Calatrava designed) bridge has become a new icon
for the City (and it's about to be flanked by two more similar beauties. Less
visionary people have referred to that bridge as a bridge to nowhere, when in
fact it is the result of some dedicated city leaders over decades to be sure
our city grew well in all directions, not just the traditional north.
I could go on and on about
the architecture, the amenities, the ease of travel and the accessibility of
all that one could want, including suburbs and an amazing city in its own right
(Fort Worth) just 30 miles to our west. In fact I must interject that with all
that Dallas has to offer, Fort Worth may well be one of the best cities to live
in the country and offers a culture and arts ethos that are also world class.
The Kimball and The Modern Museums are both amazing structures, housing amazing
collections and events. And between these fine cities sets the DFW
International airport, now boasting direct flights to every corner of the
world. DFW is one the major economic catalyst for the area.
Yes, we have find sports
teams, but let's talk economics. Dallas is a prominent player in the global
energy industry, and recent years have proven to be some of the most
significant in production. Dallas and Texas in general has proven to be a
resilient area in terms of economic performance…avoiding the depth of recession
felt by other areas. World wide fossil fuel dependency has certainly proven
beneficial to the local economy; however, statistically Dallas is quite a
diversified economy as well, and businesses are relocating headquarter operations
here in record numbers. A young, educated and highly skilled workforce is one
of the reasons for the attraction. This area is simply a well-developed, wonderfully
livable, transportation friendly, multiple-urbanized "Metroplex".
Of course we have
problems, and as the cliché goes “problems are just challenges, and challenges
are opportunities.” Albeit our challenges are high in volume and mass, and it
follows then, so are our breadth of opportunities. The good news -- we are
exceptionally positioned to deal with them, and make The City of Dallas and
beyond more than "shiny". Dallas can and should be an outstanding
example of how cities wrestle and win the intertwined fights against poverty,
homelessness, hunger, and substance abuse. Education is not mentioned as a
problem because it is the lack of education that is the major problem;
and moreover education is one of the major weapons in dire need of gentrification.
Here’s the thing – part
one: We are a city with strong and engaged leadership – political, business, educational,
religious et al, who are dedicated and well versed on facing these challenges. They
are ready. It seems that the leadership just needs the intransigent masses to
wake up and join the pursuit. Mayor Rawlins and his predecessors have and are
pushing on all fronts. Larry James and his CitySquare mission are absolute
paradigms in the fight against the base causes of poverty. Yes, they are
providing jobs. Yes, they are providing life skills and work skill training.
Yes, they have developed scores of social bridge and elevation processes; YES
they are chipping away at the poverty challenge. Plenty of examples of
leadership and change methods abound, but help is needed.
Here’s the thing – part
two: (I only accuse that of which I am guilty.) We, of medium means and above,
are hiding. We live in our nice homes in our nice neighborhoods, and we figure
out ways to get our kids in the few nice schools, and we shield our views from
the realities so near. It’s time to change. It’s past time to change, and the
required change is mildly disruptive, yet loaded with reward.
First, let’s all pop our
heads out of our fairy land and look at the real world surrounding us. Second,
let’s say in unision “wow, look at this great community and all of the
opportunity for me to help”, and finally let’s do a little “googling” and find
out where we can apply our resourceful wherewithal to get behind our awaiting
leadership.
Micro to macro -- individual
change affects other individuals, which affects the community, which affects
the state, which affects the nation, which affects the world. I can, you can, and we can do this,
Dallas! We can do this, Metroplex! We can do this, United States!
