Does Dallas do Enough to Retain its Talent?

[UrbanHope]

Just a little article I wrote on my blog.

My article is here (http://dallasprogress.blogspot.com/2006/07/does-dallas-do-enough-to-retain-young_11.html).

Capitol Annex (http://capitolannex.com/2006/07/11/dallas-black-brain-drain/) picked it up, as well as D Magazine FrontBurner (http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/archives2/015829.html).

Some of the best minds in Dallas seem to be on here, so just curious about your thoughts. I think the city is missing out on a growing segment of society that would love to stay but feels like they're better off in another city.

[AeroD]

What specifically can city government do to stop this brain drain? Or would this require "private-public partnerships"? Should all area Chambers get partner with each?

Ideas?

[UrbanHope]

I think a real PR strategy, along with working with people outside their normal comfort zone would be a start. They have to get down and do some real research.

The Conv & Visitor's Bureau needs to do the same. You should see the e-mails from people that come home to visit family and can't wait to leave.

[incrediculous]

I know that when my company can afford to make the move, we're moving to Vancouver, BC.

[AeroD]

You should see the e-mails from people that come home to visit family and can't wait to leave.

I will read you blog post again, but what about Dallas do they do not like that makes them want to leave when they visit? Is Dallas that bad for young black professionals that even visiting Dallas is a dreadful experience?

[UrbanHope]

I know that when my company can afford to make the move, we're moving to Vancouver, BC.

Wow. That says it all.

[UrbanHope]

I will read you blog post again, but what about Dallas do they do not like that makes them want to leave when they visit? Is Dallas that bad for young black professionals that even visiting Dallas is a dreadful experience?

For one, they want to live somewhere nice intown instead of the suburbs. We don't have nice newer intown stuff. Sure, the Beat and Buzz are coming but everyone doesn't want to live in a condo.

As far as Black professionals, they feel that there's nothing to do except go to little clubs here and there. There are scattered places, but nothing's established with credible socially connected people in Dallas and the City's decision makers.

If the City can push to recruit the LGBT crowd (and there's nothing wrong with that), they can work with Blacks. And the Black Chamber of Commerce sucks as well. They're no help to the younger set and don't want to be.

Older Blacks are not going to lead the charge to inhabit the Southern Sector. They are entrenched in places like Cedar Hill, Desoto, and Duncanville. Or, they live in the affluent part (for the Southern Sector) of Oak Cliff like Bar Harbor and aren't moving.

I'd love to do it. It was a subject I was going to broach (usage?) with the Mayor's Office once I met with them per my blog article.

I have sent Fedex letters over the past 2 years to almost every prominient Black political and business figure in this city regarding this subject. You name them, I sent them a package. I got NO response.

Until we get rid of people like Chaney and Reese and they're cronies, we'll be stuck in neutral.

[sogod]

Just a little article I wrote on my blog.

My article is here (http://dallasprogress.blogspot.com/2006/07/does-dallas-do-enough-to-retain-young_11.html).

Capitol Annex (http://capitolannex.com/2006/07/11/dallas-black-brain-drain/) picked it up, as well as D Magazine FrontBurner (http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/archives2/015829.html).

Some of the best minds in Dallas seem to be on here, so just curious about your thoughts. I think the city is missing out on a growing segment of society that would love to stay but feels like they're better off in another city.

Do you have any numbers or stats here? How may young blacks from Dallas graduate from college every year? How many come back to Dallas or go abroad? How does that compare to whites or Asians or Hispanics from Dallas?

[UrbanHope]

Not sure of the exact numbers. I never did a study but it seems to be a trend, imo.

[grantboston]

I can only speak for myself as a white, college-aged male at an elite university. But I plan on returning to Dallas after law school. While there's nothing that Dallas has specifically done to reach out to me, I feel like the development and redevlopment of the city and region are something that I want to witness as someone who grew up here.

I think making young people feel pride in where they live and showing that their imput has some kind of difference in shaping policy and the future of the area can go a long way. I could almost certainly stay on the East Coast and do fairly well for myself, but I know there is no way I could make a difference. I sense that Dallas is different. As much as I and some others like to think that the city/area aren't always open to people with new and different ideas, Dallas still has the supressed notion of being the "Can do" city. If the current business, political and social communities were to make an effort along with people my age, I think Dallas could make significant progress in keeping its best and brightest.

Bottom line- Dallas is a major growing economic market, as are other sunbelt cities. The key to keeping an edge is to develop a sense of identity that people can feel invested in.

[sogod]

Not sure of the exact numbers. I never did a study but it seems to be a trend, imo.

Sure, but it seems to me this could be totally normal. We might be in just the same boat as Houston, or Atlanta, or Midwestern cities or West Coast cities. Heck, maybe we do better.

[UrbanHope]

Sure, but it seems to me this could be totally normal. We might be in just the same boat as Houston, or Atlanta, or Midwestern cities or West Coast cities. Heck, maybe we do better.

Not true. We're nowhere near Atlanta in terms of perception. To me, that's our biggest competitor in the south.

[tamtagon]

Not true. We're nowhere near Atlanta in terms of perception. To me, that's our biggest competitor in the south.

As far as attracting and retaining the young African-American talent who would strive for prominence, Atlanta's big advantage is educational opportunity.
Three of the top ten ranked (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0771723.html) universities are in Atlanta. Highly regarded Emory University also makes the list.

[AeroD]

Does Paul Quinn College have any aspirations to becoming a great school? I have been to the campus once, and it was rather run down and pathetic. Heck, move Paul Quinn downtown.

[UrbanHope]

^ Couldn't tell you. Unfortunately they are in a bad financial position and somewhat forgotten b/c of the prospects of UNT-Dallas.

[LakeRidge]

Dallas does very little to improve the quality of life for it's residents other than create jobs. When you hear people talking about moving to Dallas they talk about finding a job. For example, my sister just moved here from Austin because she got a better job here in Dallas than she could in Austin. You do not hear people say, "I want to move to Dallas, I hope I can find a job there." You hear people say, "I am moving to Dallas because I found a job there."

Hopefully the development of the Trinity River and the city's core will help things.

[UrbanHope]

Dallas does very little to improve the quality of life for it's residents other than create jobs. When you hear people talking about moving to Dallas they talk about finding a job. For example, my sister just moved here from Austin because she got a better job here in Dallas than she could in Austin. You do not hear people say, "I want to move to Dallas, I hope I can find a job there." You hear people say, "I am moving to Dallas because I found a job there."


Good point. Atlanta is a place that people move for the city itself.

[AeroD]

I don't think it is a bad thing that people only move here because of a job and not because of the city of itself. A job means opportunity. The reason why people have come to this country and continue to come is because of opportunity.

Yes. Quality of life issues are important, but not as important as opportunity. In the case with young black professionals, they do not see opportunity in Dallas.

Dallas has been know more for being place of opportunity than being "a nice place". Dallas just needs to improve on that, the quality of life issues will fall into place.

[mjblazin]

Dallas is simply moving in a different direction than Atlanta. Atlanta was one of the few viable black majority cities whose growth focus/results financed the movement of black stars into government and business. That movement created a critical mass that resulted in above average opportunities for other black professionals. Another critical element is the lack of a Hispanic community.

Dallas' growth being all suburban plus the rapidly growing Hispanic community eliminated those drivers. No urban growth = no opportunities. Exacerbating the problem are leaders that are carryovers from the 60's that are simply the wrong people for their slots. They see their role as fighting over the crumbs left behind. Now that the pie is getting bigger, it's really the Hispanic community that better positioned to replicate the Atlanta experience for their community.

Dallas could become another Miami with a Mexican focus vs. Caribbean focus. I'd expect Dallas will continue to have lots of opportunities for black professionals and everybody else. But it'll never be "their" city the way Atlanta is.

A potential future problem is what if Mexican immigration veers toward Atlanta. The resulting political battle could make Dallas' conflicts look like grade school spats.

[dalatl]

Good point. Atlanta is a place that people move for the city itself.

UH (and as Tam said), one huge advantage that Atlanta has over Dallas is that it is a big time college town:

-GaTech (In the urban core with 12,000 students, highly ranked engineering school)

-Georgia State (~28,000 students, comprehensive university, VERY urban downtown campus)

-Emory (close to intown, highly ranked univ.)

-not to mention, of course, the very impressive consortium of predominately African-American universities: Morehouse, Spelman, Morris Brown and Clark Atlanta.

Insofar as being a mecca for young African-Americans (as well as everyone else), it is darn near impossible to compete with that. Also, all of these other schools (like GSU and GaTech) bring literally tens of thousands of college age people into the urban core. This helps give Atlanta a since of urban vibrancy, that Dallas, even with all of the development going on, has trouble generating.

I love Dallas: however, I believe this city's leadership has failed us for not developing educational institutions in the urban core. Note that the city of Dallas has had (until the new UNT campus) no state university (other than UTSW Med.). Our largest regional state university that has a large artsy/hip component to its student culture is UNT in Denton! Our other state universities are in the suburbs as well, e.g., UTD and UTA. It makes me sick to think about what an urban-located UNT (or UTD) would have meant to our city life.

The reference to the failure to nurture Paul Quinn is sad (especially after PQ helped to fill the void left by the former Bishop College, similarly neglected by the leadership of this city.)

I don't say this to gratuitously bash my city. I just think the leaders of this city need to wake up and realize what we are up against on the competitive front.

UH, I believe this discussion gets right to the heart of the issue of being a great city for African-American as well as talent from all ethnicity's. As jobs become more mobile, I believe that talent will increasingly follow quality of life, not just cost effectiveness.

[UrbanHope]

I really thank you all for commenting. I'm getting better discourse here than I do with the establishment.

As a alumnus of Morehouse, I was there when the city made it's transistion. The difference is that people in power shared the opportunity. Here, they hoard the power. Especially the Black establishment.

It's not about it being our city or their city, but being everybody's city

[Lakewooder]

Where did I see the recent story about the two guys renovating homes on South Blvd/Park Row?

I would maybe see a renaissance in Old South Dallas becoming a nexus -- now if we could just get a few famous people to move to the Swiss Ave. of South Dallas and start a trend...

[UrbanHope]

Here's that article

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/southdallas/stories/DN-sdfocus_08met.ART.South.Edition1.24afa60.html

I bet it ends up being people from somewhere else that see the value and fix them up. Here's an old story about how I tried to buy one of those houses and fix them up.

http://www.dallasarena.com/t041213davis.htm though a lot has changed since this article; I now work for myself.

[Mballar]

I really thank you all for commenting. I'm getting better discourse here than I do with the establishment.

As a alumnus of Morehouse, I was there when the city made it's transistion. The difference is that people in power shared the opportunity. Here, they hoard the power. Especially the Black establishment.

It's not about it being our city or their city, but being everybody's city
Ahhhhh, I have so much to say. [warning- some may be bored by, or indifferent to this post]

I truly agree with the last sentence of your post. Please, let me explain. . .I would rather that the DFW Metroplex have a reputation for being a locale where anyone who can make a meaningful contribution, and has the willpower to do so, will succeed, as opposed to being a "black city" (Atlanta, D.C.) or an hispanic city (San Antonio, Miami), or any other racialilly-identified city. When I think of GREAT cities in the U.S., I think of Chicago, New York, San Fransisco, Los Angeles. These are cities that aren't identified by one particular race/creed of people, but rather a collection of all races/creeds who want to come, and indeed collectively make those aforementioned cities great. Needless to say, I see Dallas becoming a GREAT city.

If blacks don't like Dallas because there aren't enough black businesses, black social events, or black intellectuals to make them feel comfortable, I say go somewhere you'll feel more comfortable (with no ill will towards them). To me, those who say they need that type of "social security" are limiting themselves. In my view, Dallas is a place where anyone can "shine." Yes, for some it might be harder than for others. However, when you really look at it, minorities here have a better chance of excelling than in Atlanta, D.C., San Antonio, or Miami, because in many cases, one has the opportunity to be the first, or at least excell beyond the expectations that this society has placed on him/her.

Now, if I may address your original question? I agree with tam, who already pointed out why Atlanta, specifically, has the black population it has. . .an abundance of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU's for those who don't know the short-hand). I would say that D.C. benefits from the same with Howard University. The only HBCU Dallas has is Paul Quinn College. Unfortunately, that school suffers from poor leadership/administration (think DISD) that steals major money from the coffers that should be funding PQC's student population. Therefore, PQC is doing nothing to really increase the population of black intellectuals in Dallas who can contribute in a meaningful way. But, IMHO, that's O.K. Time will change that.

I don't know whch "people" you speak of who are hording all of the power. However, I challenge you to find a city where any community of power brokers are eager to share/distribute their power. Moreover, if Dallas has a black/hispanic aristocracy like those in Atlanta/D.C., it will be the first I've heard of it. Again, because Dallas doesn't have these aristocracies, minorities are well positioned to excell, if they try.

I've given those African Americans, wishing to relocate to cities like Atlanta and D.C, much consideration in drafting this post. However, I challenge them, and you , to ask yourself these questions: Are the cities that they're flocking to, for "social security," better off than Dallas? Will those cities, that they're flocking to, be better off than Dallas?

[UrbanHope]

Thanks for the well thought out opinion.
There are a lot of facets to it.

I try not to name names all of the time, b/c then people think you have an agenda.
I remain optimistic about Dallas. I'm staying. And we'll help them share it by putting a different set of people in office in 2007. When these Council seats trun over next year, an endorsement from the incumbent is going to be worth a lot less than it used to in the Southern Sector.

[tamtagon]

Assisting the development of an exciting "downtown" urban experience is the best way the city can retain talented folks of all kinds. Dallas' satellite cities already provide one of the best suburban experiences in the country.

[columbiasooner]

Qualifier: My observation is just based on my peronal opinions not on facts.

I have a slightly different angle on the issue. I would suggest that Dallas-based companies don't actively recruit out of town talent as well as other major cities do. You look at the breakup of the recruits the law firms, investment banks, and Fortune 500 companies bring in, most all have ties to Dallas one way or another. You might say that this is proof Dallas is keeping the best and brightest. I would disagree due to the fact that this keeps Dallas a more closed off city to outsiders. In my opinion that's what D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, NY, LA, and to a lesser degree even Houston offer to people coming to their cities, more diversity and a more open atmosphere for people with no prior ties moving in.

[UrbanHope]

I would disagree due to the fact that this keeps Dallas a more closed off city to outsiders. In my opinion that's what D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, NY, LA, and to a lesser degree even Houston offer to people coming to their cities, more diversity and a more open atmosphere for people with no prior ties moving in.

I agree wth you there.

[trolleygirl]

Now, if I may address your original question? I agree with tam, who already pointed out why Atlanta, specifically, has the black population it has. . .an abundance of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU's for those who don't know the short-hand). I would say that D.C. benefits from the same with Howard University. The only HBCU Dallas has is Paul Quinn College. Unfortunately, that school suffers from poor leadership/administration (think DISD) that steals major money from the coffers that should be funding PQC's student population. Therefore, PQC is doing nothing to really increase the population of black intellectuals in Dallas who can contribute in a meaningful way. But, IMHO, that's O.K. Time will change that.

The irony is that {QC is suffering and that at least one current black city councilman has taken advantage of their poor administrative oversight and soaked them for how many humdreds of thousands of dollars???

And there will be some change, at least I like to try to hope for that. I see signs of positive change around PQC. It may take another 20 stinkin' damn years, but there will be more rooftops.

[trolleygirl]

I would disagree due to the fact that this keeps Dallas a more closed off city to outsiders. In my opinion that's what D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, NY, LA, and to a lesser degree even Houston offer to people coming to their cities, more diversity and a more open atmosphere for people with no prior ties moving in.

And as far as competing for a political carreer, Dallas indeed has the most opportunities. You can't just pick up and move to Boston and run start from the bottom of the ladder and work your way up, like you can in Dallas. I think that's also why there's a perception problem with Dallas' political landscape (stop snickering cs, I'm stretching my neck to make this point), is because we sort of still have a frontier mentality when it comes to politics. I mean, anyone can be Mayor of this town. Anyone can be on the city council. Lots of political have started here. In a more entrenched city, that doesn't happen, you either are connected or you aren't and that's it.

So it goes back to a comment someone else posted about opportunity, and the Number One Reason I love my city so much and the Number One Reason why it is such a great town is because of the people who have made something out of sheer nothing and have managed to keep this nothing city a Top 10 city for so long.

And no, people don't come here because it's diverse, they discover diversity once they're here. Nobody goes to NYC because it's "diverse", they go because it's, well because it's NYC and that's what some folks need and thrive on; the arts, the culture, the fashion, the money, prestige, etc.......I think it's great that Dallas has jobs to offer and if that's our draw, then so be it. Something's fueling our economy. And let's compare our age with others.......yeah, we're doing much better than our peers, and I don't consider Atlanta a peer. So everyone, for the last time, can we please get over this godforsaken Atlanta envy?? It's driven me nuts for years. Atlanta's not all that it's cracked up to be. Fewer people, smaller metroplex, and more friggin traffic! The streets are stupid (where on planet earth do three left turns not put you back where you started???) and the highways make you dizzy. Allergies, allergies and more allergies (what's all the yellow crud all over everything in the Spring?). It rains every day. Not one resident of Atlanta is actually from Atlanta. They don't even sell beer on Sundays yet the bars stay open 24/7. Freaknic. Stone Mountain. Krystal's. Sweet friggin tea. Shitty knockoffs of Dallas restaurants- sheesh, they can't even get a decent Tex Mex! And what's so great about Atlanta's arts and culture? And they all talk funny! About the only thing good about Atlanta are the friendly gays and some damn fine-looking women. But we have that here too.

Oh, where was I?? Oh yeah, Dallas is great. Rah! Rah!

[UrbanHope]

^ OK if all else fails we'll put TG to work on the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. We'll just send them that quote and we'll steal every convention they have!

Where Atlanta does beat Dallas is more revitalization of struggling neighborhoods. The only thing ever changed here was the Uptown and Knox Street area. They have more nice stuff all around the city vs just half of it.