Thought Leaders
Peter Pula (Journalism)
Peter Pula is the CEO of Axiom News, as well as the architect of Generative Journalism.
Walter Brueggemann
Walter Brueggemann is one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the last several decades, known throughout the world for his method of combining literary and sociological modes when reading The Bible.
Edgar Cahn (Economy)
Edgar Cahn is a longstanding social activist, the originator of Time Dollars, the creator of the Co-Production principle, the founder of TimeBanksUSA, co-founder of the National Legal Services Program and the Antioch School of Law (now the David A. Clarke School of Law) and the author of a number of books including No More Throwaway People.
Peter Block
In addition to The Abundant Community, co-authored with John McKnight, Peter Block is the author of Flawless Consulting, Community, Stewardship and The Answer to How Is Yes.
Al Etmanski (Neighborhoods)
Al Etmanski is a social entrepreneur specializing in innovative, multi-sector solutions to complex societal challenges. He is an author and blogger – www.aletmanski.com.
Bill Weaver (Journalism)
Bill Weaver is a filmmaker, journalist, speaker, and founder of Media That Matters, an annual conference committed to building a stronger, smarter community among media professionals.
Cormac Russell (Neighborhoods)
Cormac Russell is Managing Director of Nurture Development, Director of ABCD Europe and a faculty member of the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute at Northwestern University, Chicago.
Ed Everett (Neighborhoods)
Ed Everett is the former city manager of Redwood, CA and now serves as city strategist for Nextdoor, the free and private social network currently being used in more than 32,000 neighborhoods coast to coast to build stronger and safer communities.
John McKnight (Neighborhoods)
John McKnight is emeritus professor of education and social policy and codirector of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University.
Mark Anielski (Economy)
Mark Anielski is a pioneering and spiritual economist who is changing the nature of his discipline.
Paul Born (one who crosses the boundaries!)
Paul Born is the award-winning president and co-founder of Tamarack: An Institute for Community Engagement, which advances place-based solutions to problems like poverty.
Sarah van Gelder (Journalism)
Sarah van Gelder is co-founder and executive editor of YES! Magazine, a national, independent media organization that fuses powerful ideas with practical actions for a just and sustainable world.
Tim Soerens
Tim Soerens is the co-author of The New Parish, co-director of the Parish Collective, and co-founder of “Neighborhood Economics,” which works to create a “holistic renewal at the neighborhood level.”
Harrison Owen
Harrison Owen is a pioneer in Open Space Technology: an idea centered around self-organizing of people that leads to peace in the community.
Robert Thompson
Robert Thompson is a thought leader, entrepreneur, executive coach and speaker, and the creator of Thought Grenades: a blog series that offers listeners simple but solid solutions to creating positive community results.
Kevin Jones
Kevin Jones is a co-founder of Social Capital Markets, or SOCAP, which adds an ‘impact’ dimension to the traditional risk and reward investment equation.
Mike Butler
Mike Butler has been a police officer for over 30 years, and is currently the Chief of Safety in Longmont, Colorado, one of the Top 10 Community Policing Departments in the US.
Olivia Saunders
Dr. Olivia Saunders is a professor at the business school at the College of the Bahamas, who specializes in Economics and Research.
Karen Lehman
Karen Lehman is the director of Fresh Taste, a Chicago-based initiative that strives to change how food is sourced, processed and consumed locally.
Mike Mather
Mike Mather has been a pastor a Broadway Church in Indianapolis since 2003. He is a consultant for Asset Based Community Development, and the author of Sharing Stories, Shaping Community. Mike is passionate about sharing gifts and creating abundance in the community.
Mary Nelson
Mary Nelson was the CEO and founding president of Bethel New Life, a faith-based community development program, for 27 years.
Tom Dewar
Tom Dewar has been a long-time member of the Asset Based Community Development Institute, and has helped to train community leaders in multiple countries.
James Clingman
James Clingman is the nation’s most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people.
Judy Wicks
Judy Wicks is an entrepreneur, author, speaker and mentor working to build a more compassionate, environmentally sustainable and locally based economy.
Michelle Long
Michelle Long is the Founding Executive Director of BALLE: Be a Localist. She is a respected thought leader in the local economy movement and committed to growing the number of businesses and investors who are committed to maximizing well-being for all.
Louise van Rhyn
Louise is a change practitioner with a focus on large scale change in complex social systems. She lives in South Africa and is Founder of Symphonia.
Beverly Crowell
Beverly Crowell is a Managing Partner at Peter Block’s company, Designed Learning, helping to create workplaces and communities that work for the common good of all through conversations to consult, convene and empower.