Miguel Garcia: Acting Director of the Community and Resource Development Unit at the Ford Foundation, which seeks to improve the quality of life and opportunities for positive change in urban and rural communities. They support community-based institutions and their goals are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice and advance human achievement. www.fordfound.org Michael Kwartler: Architect and Planner and President of the Environmental Simulation Center whose mission is to improve the livability of communities through the application of information technology to the community planning, design and decision-making process. www.simcenter.org Saul Ramirez: Former mayor of Laredo, Texas and Director of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), the leading housing and community development advocate for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all people. www.nahro.org Michael Temali: Founder and executive director of the Neighborhood Development Center and author of The Community Economic Development Handbook: Strategies and Tools to Revitalize Your Neighborhood -a step-by-step guide to strengthening local economy, transforming neighborhoods and lifting entire communities. www.windndc.org Marcus Weiss: Director of the Economic Development and Assistance Consortium whose mission is to promote, support and advocate for community development corporations that work to create wealth, build healthy and sustainable communities and achieve lasting economic viability. www.ncced.org