Featured Speakers

James Cunningham serves as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Great Lakes Deputy Regional Administrator. Responsible for coordinating the delivery of HUD programs in Region V’s six states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Brandon Johnson is serving as the 57th mayor of Chicago. A member of the Democratic Party, Johnson was elected mayor in April 2023. He previously served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners from 2018 to 2023, representing the 1st district.

Kathryn Edin is the William Church Osborn Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University. The author of nine books, Edin is widely recognized for using direct, in-depth observation to illuminate key mysteries about poverty. Edin has co-authored The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America.

Timothy J. Nelson is the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Sociology and Lecturer of Public Affairs at the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. Nelson has co-authored The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America.

Dr. Kim Hires, Global Leadership Burnout Expert and Strategist, is dedicated to leadership development and helping leaders achieve their highest potential. Her work focuses on burnout prevention and cultivating cultures of well-being.