Message from the Chair

The Infrastructure of Inclusion

What does inclusion actually mean? By definition, it is the action of including or being included within a group or structure. Yet, over the last few years, we have seen a diluting of the core of what it means to aspire for inclusion. This goes far beyond the standard DEI conversations of the day; there is a much larger force at play — a growing division in our country that threatens to pull at the seams of even the most successful communities.

I don’t claim to have all the solutions, but I believe two of the Chamber’s core values will help us build the road to the best version of Sioux Falls possible: connection and community.

When we imagine our city 10 to 15 years from now, our current trajectory suggests we may have an identity crisis on our hands. How do we maintain the “big/small town” feel that so many of us love while still pushing for smart, transformative growth? How do we honor our established ways of doing things where they work, while still making room for an ambitious next generation ready to participate and evolve our community for their future?

Building a “bigger table” that truly welcomes everyone starts with connection. It is a basic tenet of human behavior to push against the things we don’t understand. To bridge that gap, we must do something deceptively simple: sit down and have a conversation.

I see a growing Sioux Falls, and I believe we have the opportunity to become something even more special than we are today. But that future requires everyone leaning in and playing a part. It will take compassion and a genuine understanding of the challenges and barriers facing our underserved communities. It will take active civic engagement in the process — not simply tossing empty opinions from the social media sidelines. Most importantly, it will take the courage to look in the mirror, as individuals and as a community, to own our part in where we can get better. After all, a better community is made up of better individuals.

My optimism lies in the power of these connections. Whether it is deepening relationships within our business community, choosing to have civil conversations of mutual respect with those we disagree with, or being willing to get uncomfortable to help uplift those who need a pathway to a better life — the key remains the same. It is going to take all of us to become the best of us.