CNN Political Contributor

Van Jones is a CNN host, political commentator, Emmy Award-winning producer, and New York Times best-selling author. Van has also found success as a social entrepreneur, having founded and led many thriving enterprises including the REFORM Alliance, Color of Change, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and the Dream Corps, which works to close prison doors and open doors of opportunity in the green and tech economies. Jones has stewarded several bipartisan legislative and advocacy efforts, racking up wins under the last four US Presidents: Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump. Jones’ most recent victory was advocating successfully for the passage of the FIRST STEP Act, which the New York Times calls the most substantial breakthrough in criminal justice in a generation. A Yale educated attorney, Jones has won numerous awards, including the World Economic Forum’s “Young Global Leader” designation, Rolling Stone’s 2012 “12 Leaders Who Get Things Done”, TIME’s 2009 “100 Most Influential People in The World”, the 2010 NAACP Image Award, a 2017 WEBBY Special Achievement Award, a 2019 Lumiere Award and a 2020 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Interactive Program.

Co-Founder & Executive Director, Village Square

Liz Joyner is the co-founder and executive director of the Village Square, a nonprofit dedicated to reviving civic connections across divisions inside American communities. Named by retired U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe as one of eight organizations to support if you're concerned about the deepening partisan divide, the Village Square has received support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Reid Hoffman Foundation and is the recipient of the 2015 Statewide Impact Award from Leadership Florida - which recognizes an organization that has created a body of work that can impact Florida as a whole. She was nominated by Leadership Tallahassee as Leader of the Year in 2010, named by the Tallahassee Democrat as one of "25 Women You Need to Know" in 2015, by the Girls Scouts as a "Woman of Distinction" in 2016 and was honored by United Church Women as a Woman of Peace. David Blankenhorn of the Institute for American Values called Joyner "likely the best organizer working in this area today." She is a Knight Foundation Fellow and a participant in the 2015 Conclave on Political Polarization.

Federal Court Approved Mediator, GPS Mediation

Working with leaders such as former Secretary of State George Shultz, Duf Sundheim has played a key role in developing bi-partisan coalitions to institute historic election, pension and education reforms. Duf is a member of the U.S. Federal Courts Advance Mediation Practice Group, serves as a Settlement Judge for the state courts and is a recipient of the California State Bar Pro Bono Award. For over a decade Duf has served as a senior advisor to Governors, legislative leaders, and mayors of major U.S. cities. Duf received a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University with Honors and Distinction and two letters in football. He received a J.D. from Northwestern University with the aid of an Exceptional Student Fellowship. Duf and his wife Cheryl are the parents of two adult children and live near Palo Alto California.

Strategy Officer at The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Lori Grange was the Strategy Officer in the Hewlett Foundation’s Effective Philanthropy Group. The group guides strategy, evaluation, progress tracking, and listening practices within the foundation; it also makes grants to strengthen nonprofits and the philanthropic sector. Lori partners with program staff across the foundation to create, implement, refresh, and exit strategies and initiatives. She also oversees the foundation’s Bay Area housing work.

Professor Emeritus

UC Berkeley

Fred is a Professor Emeritus in the department of City and Regional Planning at UC Berkeley. Fred is also a Past Governor of Rotary District 5160 in CA. Fred received his PhD from Harvard in Political Economy and Government. Past appointments include:  Dept. Chair, and Undergrad Dean College of Environmental Design; President & founder Berkeley Planning Associates,; 50+ years at a  planning and public policy firm working internationally and in most states; Senior Economist, Abt Associates; Budget Examiner & Policy Analyst, Bureau of Budget (now OMB); U.S. President's Executive Office; Legislative Assistant to Congressman Clarence Long (Md.). Fred served as a Berkeley City Council member for 2 terms. He served as a member on many public commissions: planning, economic development, transportation, housing, infrastructure, waterfront; Past head of large neighborhood association. 

Areas of interest: public finance and urban policy, community building, and conflict resolution. Fred serves on Rotary committees in club, District, and international roles, particularly working with youth and young professionals like Rotaract. Fred is also involved with strategic planning, and peace and conflict transformation. 

President and CEO

Howard Tours

Brad is a Past District Governor of Rotary’s District 5170 (Silicon Valley) and was a member of the Board of Directors of Rotary International for 2015-2017. He has served on, and chaired, several committees and task forces. In 2022-2023 he served as Aide to Jennifer Jones, Rotary’s First Female President.

The eradication of polio has been a significant part of Brad’s Rotary experience. He served 10 years as a Zone End Polio Now Coordinator, and has led thirty-six groups of Rotarians, comprised of over 1,700 people, to participate in polio national immunization days in sub-Saharan West Africa and India.

Brad is CEO of Howard Tours and Travel Service, a primary tour operation that takes professional groups and associations overseas for purpose - including educational, humanitarian, and special purpose programs. He is also Managing Director of a portfolio of commercial properties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Brad has dedicated much of his time to the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, as a Chair of the Alumni Association, the Fund Development Council, and the Dean’s Advisory Committee. In addition, he served on the California Alumni Association as a Board Member, and as a trustee of the Berkeley Foundation.