Cormac Russell is managing director of Nurture Development and a faculty member and European director of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at DePaul University, Chicago. He is also codirector of the new Community Renewal Centre. Russell is a popular international keynote speaker and is also the author of Rekindling Democracy.

John McKnight is cofounder of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute and a senior associate of the Kettering Foundation. McKnight cofounded the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group with Dr. Quentin Young, cofounded the Gamaliel Foundation with Greg Galluzzo, and was a founding board member of National People's Action led by Gale Cincotta.