Joe Alcantar, 53, president, Alman Electric, Inc.

"Dallas has been recognized as an international City with a "can-do" spirit – a city always striving to reach greater heights, from pursuing the Olympics to building a Latino Cultural Center. It’s my belief we must trust each other, we must have pride in ourselves, we must embrace diversity, and finally we must improve the behavior in our DISD system. If we can support these efforts, we will continue to grow and prosper, leaving a great legacy for our children and generations to come."

Dr. Ron J. Anderson, 54, president and CEO, Parkland Health and Hospital System

"There is a tendency for the term "world class" to be used to describe the Dallas area, when in fact, there are many areas of need that require serious attention. If we are to develop or redevelop the areas west or south of the Trinity River, or revitalize old East Dallas and South Dallas, or aspire to do the Trinity River Project, city and county officials and community leaders must recognize the importance of a strong infrastructure that includes public health, education, affordable housing, job availability and safety for poor populations. These elements are essential to claiming such a lofty title as "world class" and avoid the duality that could be characterized as a "Tale of Two Cities" presently. The beauty, however, is that we have the people and the resources to address these issues and to truly achieve world class status."

Rebecca Arnold, 43, owner J&R Contractors and secretary of the American Indian Advisory Committee for DISD

Rebecca Arnold would like the new DISD superintendent to place the elimination of racism and stereotyping as an educational priority. "Curriculum could be reviewed to be inclusive of American Indians," Ms. Arnold said. "Misinformation should be removed, our history included and textbooks sought out." She added "What a gift to our children…to our future."

Albert C. Black, Jr, 41, president and CEO, On-Target Supplies and Logistics, Ltd.

"The citizens of Dallas must continue to embrace the present while reaching for the future. We must begin to address those issues that are most important by looking forward, determining what we want the city to be and then executing on those items. We must have the vision to know how we want to be remembered for southern sector development, infrastructure improvements, transportation needs and public safety. Dallas became the great city that it is by John Neely Bryan sitting down and envisioning how great we could be. Business and community leaders provided the infrastructure. Now, what was old must become new. We must begin to rethink, recommit to the vision of what and how we make this city better."

Terrell Bolton, 42, police chief, City of Dallas

"As the Chief of Police, I see the positive effects of citizens looking out for neighbors and becoming involved in their safety and care. Small acts by individuals save lives and improve neighborhood conditions every day. If each of us worked harder to become a better neighbor and friend, Dallas would become a safer and more compassionate community."

Bob Buford, 61, author and founder of Leadership Network and FaithWorks

"I have committed the second half of my life to work on transforming the latent energy in American Christianity into active energy. That idea obsesses me every day. My dream is that Christians (85% of the U.S. population) would somehow convert their faith from ritual to results, from belief to commitment, from (to quote Dostoyevski’s elegant phrasing) "love in dreams" to "love in action." Now THAT would make a difference!"

Kay Cattarulla, 60+, producer, Arts & Letters Live, Dallas Museum of Art

"Stop the suburban sprawl -- revel in urban life!"

Talley Dunn, 32, owner, Dunn and Brown Contemporary

"As a native (3rd generation) Dallasite, I am dismayed by the widespread destruction of the city’s older neighborhoods and the demolition of countless homes I’ve witnessed throughout the city. As the architectural integrity of individual neighborhoods rapidly disappears, Dallas loses its connection to the past and its unique identity that distinguishes it from other cities in the country. Outstanding examples of early 20th Century domestic architecture face extinction in our city and the undeveloped land that they occupy is equally endangered.

I would like to see greater attention paid to the conservation and preservation of not only Dallas’ historic homes and neighborhoods, but also the land that surrounds them–through stricter zoning, a greater concern for balance between built structures and nature, and an organized effort to create more inner city parks."

Dean Fearing, 46, chef, The Mansion on Turtle Creek

"While we all should try and practice The Golden Rule on a daily basis, I hope that the Dallas community will become more concerned with the collective health, physical fitness and especially the nutritional needs of our children. After all, they are the future."

Liz Flores-Velasquez, 43, executive director, Greater Dallas Community Relations Commission

The concept of being "color-blind" is what I would ask folks to re-think. At first blush, it appears to be a laudable goal. But actually, being "color-blind" usually means that we don’t acknowledge each other’s cultural backgrounds and other differences like gender, all of which contribute enormously to a person’s identity and shape their view of the world. Being color-blind does not value and respect differences. I believe what people really mean when they say they are color-blind is that they try not to make value judgements based on a person’s color, ethnic background, gender, physical size or disability. That suspension of judgement is a good thing."

John Fullinwider, 48, teacher, Metropolitan Education Center, Dallas Public Schools

"I would have adults change their generally disrespectful treatment of children and youth. We alternately romanticize and demonize teenagers, all against a backdrop of relentless commercialism--for instance, selling corporations (Coca Cola, Channel One) access to the captive young audience in our classrooms. We hold young people accountable for passing increasingly difficult tests, but who holds adult policy-makers accountable for overcrowded, underfunded, re-segregated schools that are staffed increasingly by inexperienced, uncertified teachers. Try listening to young people. No, really listen. The young people I know and work with daily have a depth of experience, much of it harrowing and some of it quite dangerous, that know-it-all adults could learn."

Hector Garcia, 45, professional actor; general manager, The Riviera; and chairman of City of Dallas Planning and Zoning Commission

"I would change the urge to grab the car keys. We all drive cars everywhere and rarely consider the possibility of walking, biking, blading, or riding public transportation. Yet, when we visit other cities, most of us do a lot of walking and we ride public transportation. Our region would benefit because we would help improve the environment. That’s obvious. Just as important, however, would be the benefit of interacting face to face with neighbors and strangers alike. What a changed world we would have if only we would come in daily contact with the vast humanity that surrounds us."

T.D. Jakes, 43, senior pastor, The Potter’s House Church and CEO of T.D. Jakes Ministries

"It seems difficult to get all of us to realize that if one part of the city is faltering financially, emotionally and academically, we all suffer through resulting crime, cruelty and despair. The age-old question still remains today, "Am I my brother’s keeper". Or simply put, "whose fault is it?" The answer is all of us are responsible for each other’s welfare to a degree. The sense of shared responsibility will provoke a strong city with greater sense of cohesiveness, which I believe is essential. May God help us all to recognize our diverse needs, mutual dependency, and by faith, increase our capacity to develop our experience of brotherhood empowerment as we share our resources and apply pressure to the hemorrhaging morality and economy of the Dallas/Ft.Worth metroplex."

Curtis King, 45, founder and president, The Black Academy of Arts and Letter, Inc.

Ronald Kirk, 46, Mayor of Dallas

"I would like to see an increased understanding of the culture, needs, and talents of our young people and the correlation between investing in our city and the future of public education."

Andrew Litton, 41, music director, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

"I’d like the Arts returned to their rightful place in all Dallas schools. If kids had a chance to express themselves through the arts, I am convinced that many of the ills of our society could be expunged. When budget cuts shortsightedly removed arts programs from public schools, fundamental emotional outlets for our kids were removed as well. It’s time we realized that relegating the Arts to some elective outpost rather than basic core curriculum was a terrible idea. An enlightened Dallas would find the funding to permit our School Districts to support what scientific studies continue to prove – kids given exposure and access to the Arts grow up into better adults."

Lory Masters, 51, broker/president. Master Realtors, Inc.

"Dallas and the wonderful folks who live in this great city would be much better off if they relaxed more and took the time to enjoy the fruits of their labor."

Brian McCall, 42, businessman and member of the Texas House of Representatives

"A spirit of volunteerism is a developed characteristic of certain universities, churches, organizations and businesses. Those institutions that design and cultivate this trait get back what they give – and more. Dallas is ahead of many cities in this regard. If I could change one collective behavior, it would be a widespread selfless volunteerism on the part of the citizens of Dallas."

Grace McDermott, 55, president, Tiara USA/A Skincare and Perfume Company

" I would certainly focus on the area of education. I have been told often that my community (the Asian American community) puts great emphasis on the education of its children. While this is true, I think that many other ethnic communities also put education first for their children. I would like to see more cooperation between the leadership of the various ethnic communities to put the interest of our students first. Leaders need to set good examples by working together, celebrating diversity and respecting one another. The education of our children represents the future of the city of Dallas both in terms of our future work force and a better well being for our children."

Mamie McKnight, consultant

" I would change the selfish, greedy and hateful behavior of some which often results in a clear division between the haves and have-nots, a non-caring and distrustful attitude toward others, a disrespect for human life–especially those of our children– and acquiring money and material things by any means necessary. The future of each succeeding generation depends on how we care for our young which should include nurturance in the home and community with the best educational opportunities possible for all children."

Pamela Nelson, 53, artist, self-employed

"Change the behavior of suburban isolation. Many could contribute not only commerce, but time and talent to the inner city. The greater the population in the center city, the more activity , the more life and diversity and development. Many people live without involvement with the heart of the city. They are not comfortable or interested in coming downtown. If every suburbanite would come in once a week on a train or a bus, the center city would come alive. I want to emphasize not just coming downtown but connecting to downtown– person to person, one person at a time connection. So the behavior would be connection instead of isolation, no matter where we live."

John Wiley Price, 50, Dallas County Commissioner

"The inability to accept and value differences exhibited by diverse races and cultures has contributed to a community in which its citizens often find themselves in conflict. We should finally be of the belief that to expect human differences to melt in a pot of cultural anonymity is inappropriate. Dallas is a city that prides itself on not having had to experience the pain and injury of desegregation that so many of its urban sisters’ cities experienced. However, Dallas has been unable to create the quintessential Dallas citizen void of racial, cultural and language differences. It is time, therefore, to create a new ethos of acceptance, inclusion and service to an increasingly diverse group of Dallasites."

Oscar Rodriguez Jr., 49, area superintendent, Dallas Public Schools

"What a challenge! A better future will not happen until everyone is willing to set aside personal agendas and begins to work, with integrity and equity, to create a better Dallas."

Roxan Staff, 50, president, Dallas Public Schools board of trustees

" I would hope to see a demonstrated sense of ownership of the City, schools, and neighborhoods. An attitude of ‘’it’s mine– if it does not work, I need to help get it fixed," would go a long way in improving the City. If one knows their state representative, voted in the last school board election, has their councilperson’s phone number in their personal directory and only puts "bulky trash" curbside at appropriate times, they probably are demonstrating that "ownership" behavior.

Unfortunately, too few do. It is much easier to take the path of apathy, move somewhere else, or let someone else handle it.

David Stern, 39, rabbi, Temple Emanu-El

"I would create a greater commitment to addressing the inequities of our city – especially in education and in economic opportunity. That means a greater breadth of vision, moving people to a concern for something beyond their own narrow life’s path. We can gauge our success by our treatment of the powerless, by our affirmation of the dignity of every individual. Ultimately, the quality of any society will be judged not by how much wealth its members amassed, but by how they chose to use it."

Paul Thai, 38, Dallas police sergeant and member of the Cambodian American Association of Dallas

"I would love to see people in Dallas be sensitive and understanding of each other’s cultures, accept the differences and unite."

Dr. Kern Wildenthal, 59, president, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

"The collective change would be for everyone to understand the importance of our education system, from early preschool through graduate education, and to work together toward improving our schools and universities at all levels. Education and research are keys to enhancing our quality of life, conquering disease, and building better communities. We need to increase our investment in our educational and research institutions, not only financially but also intellectually, psychologically, and emotionally. We need to be committed to the concept that our future depends on the excellence of our schools and universities."