LEAD YP is a six-month leadership development program the DRC designed to help young professionals gain a better understanding of their personal leadership styles, as well as new insight into leading and inspiring others throughout their careers. A key component of the program is community improvement projects, which incorporate the DRC’s mission to make the Dallas Region the best place in the United States for all people to live, work, and do business. The projects allow program participants to create plans to solve real-life issues in the DRC’s focus areas of economic development, education and workforce, public policy, quality of life, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
This year’s LEAD YP Class of 2021 has advocated for issues affecting the Dallas Region while growing both personally and professionally. As business leaders, class members are uniquely positioned to advocate for improvements in the community and to support companies that are doing the same. Four class members took on a project in the area of economic development.
Economic Development Group
Emily Grace, Deloitte
Vicente Hernandez, Arcosa
Preston Rock, Turner Construction
Jana Simons, Meadows Collier
With the rapidly increasing population in the DFW area, the economic development group project focused on optimally managing Dallas’ evolution. The project addressed four key issues requiring dialog and action: infrastructure expansion, transportation flexibility, support for public school systems, and development of affordable housing options. The group highlighted the critical role young professionals play in creating more equitable and sustainable growth in Dallas.
To learn more about the economic development group’s work, read their complete research paper and watch their full project video.
If you are a young professional or work with outstanding young professionals at your company, contact Casey Rodriguez, Leadership Programs Manager, at 214.746.6692 or crodriguez@dallaschamber.org to learn more about the DRC’s YP programs and see how you can impact change in the Dallas Region.