Introduction

What will the future of Texas be? Will its population increase and if so how rapidly and where will this growth be most extensive? Will its wealth increase with its population or will per capita levels of income and wealth decrease? What are the population-related opportunities and challenges likely to impact Texas in the first decades of the 21st Century?

Recent findings from The Center for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research and Education projected a sober future for Texas if the socioeconomic characteristics (differences in income, education, and program participation) of the fastest growing segments of Texas population did not change and if the State showed the rapid, diverse, and relatively pervasive growth projected to occur. Under these baseline conditions of population change, Texas would be more in need of numerous forms of State services than its present population but would be less able to support such services. It would have a population that is likely to be less competitive in the increasingly international labor and other markets of the world. The work suggested that the challenge for the State was to ensure that all Texans had the skills and education necessary to compete in the increasingly international economy and that to fail to meet this challenge could result in a Texas that is poorer and less competitive.

The analysis shows that the diversification of Texas is the dominant demographic pattern impacting the State. Texas will become less than one-half Anglo in the next few years and is likely to have an Hispanic majority population by 2040 (with only one-third to one-quarter of the population being Anglo by 2040 and between 52 and 59 percent being Hispanic). Given the current socioeconomic differentials among racial/ethnic groups, this growing diversity presents a major challenge to Texas. 

The non-Anglo populations of Texas will increasingly become the Texas population. This pattern suggests that the State’s future will be increasingly tied to its non-Anglo populations and that the way non-Anglo populations grow and change will largely determine the future of Texas.

Demography is not destiny but it plays an important role in determining the future. In many ways, how well Texas meets the challenges of the 21st Century may well depend on the extent to which it can alter the determinative effects of its changing population and ensure that population growth also leads to extensive and inclusive patterns of socioeconomic growth. Communities need to take an active role in addressing the issues that face Texas so that our state and communities are well-prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

The Solution

Successful communities have emerging leaders with the vision, energy, and skills to set common goals and galvanize people into action. In the past such leadership often was provided by business leaders through a process of informal mentoring. Today it needs to be more broadly based and explicitly fostered. One way of doing so is through Community Leadership programs, which are unique educational experiences for the rising generation of decision-makers from all of the different sectors in a community: private, public, and voluntary. The program provides the emerging leaders with a 360-degree perspective on the community in which they live and work. While each program bears the stamp of the issues and concerns facing the individual city or region, the majority of programs try to meet three fundamental objectives:

• to identify and nurture potential leaders;

• to develop networks of people from different sectors of the community who can work together to address community problems;

• to instill a sense of community trusteeship among potential leaders.

Communities all across America are in a hidden crisis mode.  As community members, we must develop an informed community with an enlightened leadership to help shape and make the policies to effectively change the next decade and significantly alter or change the future.  

Enduring Understanding

The positive force of community unites us along our common interests. It is built on our past, finds unity in our present, and gives us hope for our future. Our work in community leadership development is an expression of faith in our common interests and shared destiny.

Essential Questions

• What role can community leaders play in shaping the vision and direction of the education system in the community?
• How can individuals from the community work together to improve the quality of living for all citizens?
• Why is economic development important in the success of a community?
• How does education contribute to economic development?
• How can wise investments in education create a positive business climate?
• What are the social costs of inadequate educational and workforce preparation opportunities?
• Why should we invest more in people and human capacity?

Expected Outcomes

• Influence change through policy.
• Develop potential school board members.
• Develop an informed community of grassroots support.
• Provide the knowledge and skills to enable existing boards, organizations, and business leadership to act positively in the community.
• Build upon the strengths and momentum already in place within the community.
• Understand and support the role that early education and our educational system plays in the quality of life in the community.

Impact in the Community

• A cadre of community leaders that invest their time and efforts in improving the quality of life for all citizens.
• A system of support that encourages community members to get involved in improving our education system.
• An interconnected and interdependent system that depends on the quality of education for the community's quality of life and economic viability.

Evaluation

Participant feedback is critical to the continuous improvement of Quality Learning solutions. Learners are given an opportunity to provide electronic feedback to rate the quality of solutions.