Finding common ground: How Collin County is charting a path to unity
Local growth alone does not create community. As new infrastructure, global corporate headquarters and neighborhoods continue to rapidly reshape North Texas, one vital question remains at the forefront for our region’s leadership: How do we ensure that as Collin County expands physically, we remain intentionally connected as a community?
On Thursday, June 11, the Collin County Business Alliance (CCBA) hosted the next event in its ongoing Collin County Celebrates initiative, an evening dedicated to answering that exact question through shared history and mutual respect.
Annette Gordon-Reed
Held at Gather on the Square in McKinney, the Milestones of America dinner brought together community members from every walk of life to reflect on our collective journey toward a vibrant, supportive and prosperous North Texas.
History as a blueprint for shared progress
The highlight of the evening featured a keynote address by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author, Annette Gordon-Reed. A native Texan, Gordon-Reed expertly bridged the gap between early American history and modern civic responsibility, utilizing the deep, localized history of Juneteenth to explore the true meaning of institutional and social progress.
Reflecting on General Order No. 3—issued in Galveston in 1865—Gordon-Reed highlighted the historic declaration that emancipated citizens were to exist in a state of “absolute equality.” She challenged the room to view equality and the "American Creed" not as passive concepts, but as constant, active commitments that require collective effort across generations.
"A creedal nation has high aspirations," Gordon-Reed shared during her address. "Just because an ideal hasn’t always been perfectly true in practice doesn't mean it isn’t vitally important. You have to have a standard to try to reach for. That standard is what propels a society forward."
From listening to action: Together We Dine
Following the keynote address, the group transitioned to a time of active civic participation through Project Unity’s signature Together We Dine table discussions.
Project Unity’s Together We Dine
Supplemented with guided conversation decks, strangers sat down as neighbors to share unique perspectives, confront complex issues and seek out common ground over a shared meal.
Laying the foundation for the future
As the night wrapped up, the message was clear: our greatest economic and cultural asset in Collin County is, and always will be, each other. By leaning into an inclusive, collaborative spirit, the civic and business leaders of North Texas are proving that economic momentum and human belonging go hand in hand.
The story of Collin County is still being actively written in our boardrooms, at city council meetings and around dinner tables just like this one. The CCBA’s mission is realized through community events like these, and we are honored to have hosted this incredible group for the dinner.
What’s next for Collin County Celebrates?
The celebration doesn't stop here. The CCBA invites the entire community to the upcoming, free Texas Traditions festival!
When: Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 6-9 PM
Where: Kaleidoscope Park in Frisco
Featuring: Texas cuisine, cold drinks, family-friendly activities, live music by King George (a George Strait tribute band) and a drone show.