I was at the vet's office checking on my dog Daisy who is recovering from a broken leg, (long story), when I happened upon the May 2009 edition of Texas Monthly Magazine that featured the" Texas Monthly Brainstorm."

The folks at Texas Monthly asked 82 people to send in one idea (in one hundred words or fewer) on how to make Texas a better place.

Their correspondents included CEOs, pastors, artists, politicians, journalists, professors, publishers, activists, university presidents, district attorneys, economists, musicians, a mayor, a rapper, a blogger, a coach, a rancher, a gamer, and a first lady.

One of the "Brainstorm Contributors" was Valley's own Juliette Garcia, President of The University of Texas, Brownsville. 

Here is her contribution:

"Texas needs bold, inventive, clever, honest leadership. Our visionaries are often too insulated, unknown, or unconnected to the hubs of power, and the few who make it through the gauntlet are often transformed by a process that strips them of the luster that attracted us to them in the first place. We should establish a proactive means for drawing new, diverse leaders into the centers of influence, a “blue list” of sorts that brings together emerging leaders. Through the process of solving complex and urgent problems, these people can launch a new generation to advance the public interest."

Well said!

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2009-05-01/feature29.php