Friends and colleagues,
Wednesday, April 22, Earth Day! /The Anatole Hotel/Earth X
From 9 to 5. Free! If you can’t make the whole day, come for part of it.
The BioEconomy: planning a sustainable future for North Texas
I write to you today with a sense of urgency. North Texas is growing, bringing both challenges and opportunities.
With the good news of economic growth comes the responsibility to plan for a sustainable future.
On April 22nd, I will be leading a day long workshop as part of Earth X at the Anatole Hotel. Admission is free, and I want you to be there.
Business leaders, planners, conservationists, architects, students, master naturalists, engineers, and elders will all gather around tables to discuss and work on four key topics: water and the water shed; human infrastructure; biodiversity; and the intersection of land use and the built environment.
Many good people are working on these issues in North Texas, but we are not communicating with each other enough. We need to break down silos, reach across disciplines, and collaborate on our future.
Bring your smarts, your experience, and your commitment to a better future in North Texas.
I have attached a detailed agenda and a way to pre-register FOR FREE. No promo code is needed. Bring your staff. Invite your colleagues and your friends. It’s going to be an exciting day.
Earthx2026 – North Texas Day Earth Day Workshop
The Eco Future of North Texas: Building a Regional Framework for Sustainability
April 22, 2026
9:00 – 9:10 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
TBD
9:10 – 9:20 AM | Setting the Stage: The Eco Future of North Texas
Speakers: David Marquis & Kathryn Guerra (Chair, City of Dallas Environmental Commission)
An introduction to the day’s core themes—exploring the intersection of ecology and the economy through four critical lenses:
· Water & Watershed
· Land Use & the Built Environment
· Biodiversity
· Human Infrastructure
9:20 – 9:40 AM | Opening Exercise: Why Are You Here?
Facilitator: David Marquis (Water Issues Advisor to the City of Dallas Environmental Commission)
A guided centering exercise followed by table discussions to clarify individual purpose and shared intent—laying the groundwork for meaningful collaboration.
9:40 – 10:00 AM | Defining the Mission & Objectives
Speakers: Kathryn Guerra & David Marquis
An overview of the workshop’s goals:
· Building a regional sustainability framework
· Identifying key environmental and economic challenges
· Scaling local solutions across urban, suburban, and rural contexts
· Creating actionable next steps for participants
10:00 – 10:20 AM | Regional Outlook: Growth, Systems & Interconnection
Speakers:
James McGuire—Texas State Director, The Nature Conservancy
Cullum Clark—Fellow, Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Institute
A data-driven and systems-level overview of North Texas growth and how core issues—water, land, biodiversity, and infrastructure—interact across the region.
10:20 – 10:30 AM | Networking Break
Meet someone new and begin building cross-sector connections.
10:30 – 11:00 AM | Table Session I: Regional Challenges & Perspectives
Small-group discussions exploring key challenges from diverse professional and community viewpoints.
FOCUS AREA I: HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE
11:00 – 11:20 AM | Spotlight Presentations: People as the System
Speakers:
Ian Seamans--Dallas City Hall Advocate, Environment Texas: Building coalitions for a bird-friendly convention center
Jimena Vivanco-- Conservation Manager, Trinity Park Conservancy: Engaging youth as drivers of long-term sustainability
Short talks highlighting how human networks and leadership drive environmental progress.
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM | Table Session II: Building Human Infrastructure
Interactive exercises focused on forming durable networks, identifying shared goals, and establishing pathways for ongoing collaboration.
12:00 – 1:30 PM | Lunch & Networking
FOCUS AREA II: WATER & THE WATERSHED
1:30 – 1:50 PM | Spotlight Presentation: Regional Water Systems
Speaker: Susan Alvarez, Director of Environment and Development, North Central Texas Council of Governments
An overview of North Texas transportation and stormwater infrastructure planning and its implications for long-term water resilience.
1:50 – 2:30 PM | Table Session III: Water Challenges & Solutions
Collaborative discussions on watershed management, infrastructure, and the future of water in a rapidly growing region.
FOCUS AREA III: LAND USE & BIODIVERSITY
2:30 – 2:50 PM | Spotlight Presentations: Nature in the Built Landscape
Speakers:
· Julie Fineman – Co-creator, Constellation of Living Memorials: Restoring biodiversity through historic landscapes
· Michael Clifford – Strategy Director, Reverse the Red: Biodiversity as a measure of regional health
Exploring how land use decisions directly impact ecological resilience.
2:50 – 3:30 PM | Table Session IV: Biodiversity & Conservation
Group work focused on integrating biodiversity into regional planning and development strategies.
3:30 – 3:45 PM | Break
FOCUS AREA IV: LAND USE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
3:45 – 4:00 PM | Spotlight Presentation: Rethinking Urban Form
Speaker: Julie Hiromoto, Partner/Director of Integration, HKS: Land Use and the Built Environment
How density, vertical development, and design can reduce environmental impact while supporting growth.
4:00 – 4:30 PM | Table Session V: The Future of the Built Environment
Discussions on land use, conservation development, and scalable urban solutions.
4:30 – 5:00 PM | Closing Session: What Now? What Next?
Facilitators: David Marquis & Kathryn Guerra
A full-group reflection synthesizing key insights and identifying next steps.
Participants will explore:
· How to measure success
· How to share progress and challenges
· How to sustain collaboration beyond the workshop
5:00 PM | Adjourn & Informal Networking
Program Notes
Each hour features a brief “top-of-hour” presentation to ground discussion in real-world examples and data.
Table sessions are the core of the workshop, bringing together diverse voices across sectors—business, conservation, policy, design, science, and community leadership.
The day emphasizes interconnection: regional systems—from water to transportation to biodiversity—are deeply linked, and solutions must be as well.
Register on the link below…