Equitable Cities IV: How the Business Community Impacts City Development

Navigating the infrastructure, land and relationships in construction. Host Adam Morrisey interviews global leaders in the built environment exploring the people, ideas and innovations guiding the construction and civil engineering industries into the future.

 

On this episode of Dirt Work, we concluded our Equity Cities mini-series by discussing the role that the business community plays in the development of our cities with Dallas Regional Chamber (“DRC”) executives Tosha Herron-Bruff and Jared Fitzpatrick. The Dallas Regional Chamber is one of the most established business organizations in the nation and serves as the voice of business and the champion of economic development and growth in the Dallas Region. Tosha and Jared lead the Chamber’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts.

Jared and Tosha discussed the key role that chamber organizations around the country serve in promoting and supporting the business community. The Dallas Chamber works with member companies and regional partners to strengthen our business community by advocating for pro-growth public policies, improving our educational system, attracting talented workers from around the world, and enhancing the quality of life for all. With the DRC’s newly launched initiatives in equity and inclusion, Tosha and Jared support area businesses making contributions to the wellbeing of the region as well as educating other businesses of their responsibility to contribute to building equitable cities. The Chamber aims to make the region a better place for all people to live, work and do business.

The business community benefits their immediate and surrounding areas in many ways:

  1. Attracting talented employees to live in particular regions.
  2. Through the development of districts and/or infrastructure to attract and retain talent, as well as contribute to the livability and business friendliness of the region.
  3. Through the commitment to the welfare of the cities through non-profit, philanthropic, and community-oriented initiatives.

For listeners interested in learning more about the work that the DRC is doing and trends related to diversity, inclusion, and equity, Tosha and Jared recommend keeping up with Dallas Regional Chamber and Dallas Innovates.

Catch Up on Past Episodes of Dirt Work!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

skilled trades mentorship
Blue-Collar, High-Voltage, and High-Stakes: Rebuilding the Workforce Pipeline with Skilled Trades Mentorship at TradeMentor
April 7, 2026

The skilled trades are getting squeezed from both sides: demand is rising—driven by grid upgrades, battery storage buildouts, and the reshoring of manufacturing—while the workforce pipeline keeps narrowing. Across construction, manufacturing, and other skilled trades, employers are facing a demographic cliff: for every five workers who retire, only two replacements enter the workforce. Contractors…

Read More
Student
How Business Schools Can Scale Co-op Without Losing the Student Experience
April 6, 2026

Experiential learning has shifted from a differentiator to an expectation in higher education, especially as employers place more value on job-ready graduates who can adapt quickly to changing workplace demands. At the same time, AI is reshaping entry-level work, making durable skills like judgment, communication, and adaptability more important than routine task execution. In that…

Read More
Solo Stove
From Firepits to Full Backyard Experiences: How Solo Stove Is Rebuilding Connection Through Product Innovation
April 3, 2026

As consumer brands navigate a post-pandemic world shaped by digital saturation and rising loneliness, the most successful companies are rediscovering something analog: human connection. A 2025 World Health Organization report found that 1 in 6 people globally are affected by loneliness, highlighting a growing public health challenge tied to weaker social bonds and reduced…

Read More
Doable
Rethinking Leadership: Why “Doable” Might Be the Most Powerful Strategy in Education Today
April 3, 2026

At a time when educator burnout is rising and schools across the U.S. are facing ongoing teacher shortages, leaders are being forced to rethink what sustainable success actually looks like. Research shows that teacher attrition is closely tied to working conditions, job-related stress, and workload demands. As districts push for innovation, data-driven instruction, and…

Read More