Kimberly Atkins Stohr

Kimberly Atkins Stohr is a senior opinion writer and columnist at The Boston Globe, and lead columnist for the Emancipator, a joint venture by Globe Opinion and the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research that reimagines 19th-century abolitionist newspapers to reframe the current national conversation on racial justice. She is also an MSNBC contributor, a guest host for the NPR/WBUR-produced news program On Point, and co-host of the weekly Politico legal news podcast #SistersInLaw. Previously, Stohr was the first Washington, DC-based news correspondent for WBUR. She has also served as the Boston Herald’s Washington bureau chief, guest host of C-SPAN’s morning call-in show Washington Journal,  and a Supreme Court reporter for Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and its sister publications. She has appeared as a political commentator on a host of national and international television and radio networks, including CNN, Fox News, NBC News, PBS, NPR, Sky News (UK), and CBC News (Canada). Before launching her journalism career, she was a trial and appellate litigation attorney in Boston. Kimberly is a native of Michigan, and a graduate of Wayne State University, Boston University School of Law and Boston University College of Communication, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Stohr has moderated several conversions for The Common Good, including The Future of Roe v Wade with Wendy Davis and Rising Leaders Series: Meet Letitia James. She is currently a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.

Twitter: @KimberlyEAtkins

Instagram: @KimberlyEAtkins

LinkedIn: @KimberlyAtkinsStohr


Selected Media:

Gillian Sorensen

Gillian Sorensen has had a distinguished career with the United Nations serving as Assistant Secretary-General; Special Adviser for  Public Policy, and National Advocate for the United Nations Foundation. She worked closely with three Secretaries-General, with diplomats from 193 nations and with 4000 non-governmental organizations accredited to the UN. She began her career as the New York City Commissioner for the United Nations and Consular Corps, head of the city’s liaison office with 30,000 diplomats. She is an experienced public speaker and has addressed audiences here and abroad ranging from diplomats and politicians, to journalists and students, women’s groups and faith groups, civic leaders and cadets at both West Point and the Air Force Academy. Gillian has twice been a Fellow at Harvard. She serves on the Board of the International Rescue Committee and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is active in political life and was a delegate to three national Presidential Conventions. She continues to inspire support for the UN on matters of peace, justice, human rights, and humanitarian and refugee relief. A New York Times profile referred to her as “The Diplomat’s Diplomat.” Sorensen has moderated several events for The Common Good, including Smithsonian American Women's History Museum with Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Smithsonian’s Lisa Sasaki. She is currently a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.

LinkedIn: @GillianSorensen

Selected Media:

Representative Abigail Spanberger

Rep. Abigail Spanberger

U.S. Representative

Rep. Spanberger serves Virginia’s seventh congressional district. Spanberger began her career in public service, first serving as a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigating money laundering and narcotic cases, and then serving as a case officer with the CIA. As a CIA officer, she worked at home and abroad to collect vital intelligence, keep our country safe, and worked in furtherance of our national security priorities. In the private sector, Representative Spanberger worked with colleges and universities to help them diversify their student bodies and increase graduation rates.

Rep. Spanberger serves on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. On the House Agriculture Committee, she serves as Chair of the Conservation & Forestry Subcommittee and as a member of the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee. And on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Spanberger serves as Vice-Chair of the Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber Subcommittee and as a member of the Asia, Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee.

Representative Spanberger grew up in Henrico County. She earned her B.A at the University of Virginia and her MBA at a dual degree program between Purdue University’s Krannert School and the GISMA Business School in Hanover, Germany.

On November 30, 2021, Representative Abigail Spanberger participated in Rising Leaders Series: Meet Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA)

Letitia James

Letitia “Tish” James

New York Attorney General

Letitia “Tish” James is the 67th Attorney General for the State of New York. With decades of work, she is an experienced attorney and public servant with a long record of accomplishments. She is the first woman of color to hold statewide office in New York and the first woman to be elected Attorney General. 

In 2013, Ms. James was elected Public Advocate for the City of New York and became the first woman of color to hold citywide office. As Public Advocate, Ms. James served as a watchdog over New York City government agencies and as an advocate for the City’s most vulnerable communities. She Transformed the Public Advocate’s office to be a formidable engine for change.

Prior to serving as Public Advocate, Tish James represented the 35th Council District in Brooklyn in the New York City Council for ten years. As a council Member, she passed the Safe Housing Act, legislation that forced landlords to improve living conditions for tenants in New York City’s worst building. She also pushed through a revolutionary recycling package that included expanding plastic recycling, a new clothing and textile recycling program, and increased access to recycling in public spaces.

Tish James began her career as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society. A proud Brooklynite, she is a graduate of Lehman College and Howard University School of Law.

On November 11, 2021, Letitia “Tish” James participated in Meet Letitia James, New York's Attorney General

Representative Chrissy Houlahan

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

U.S. Representative

U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, and educator who is continuing her career of service as the first woman ever to represent Pennsylvania's 6th District in Congress.

Chrissy is the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who came to America with nothing. She grew up in a military family; her parents met when her father and grandfather flew P3s in the same Navy squadron. She earned her engineering degree from Stanford with an ROTC scholarship that launched her service in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves, and later earned her M.S. in Technology and Policy from MIT.

Chrissy has helped lead several thriving Southeastern Pennsylvania companies including AND1, a basketball apparel company headquartered in Paoli, and B Lab, the organization that launched the B Corporation movement. She went on to serve in Teach for America as a chemistry teacher at Simon Gratz High School in North Philadelphia, and then led and scaled a non-profit helping thousands of underserved students all across America build their literacy skills.

These experiences helped shape her political vision of a great nation united by common values that leaves no one behind. She is committed to fighting for access to quality, affordable healthcare, common sense gun safety, government accountability and transparency, and working to build a strong, stable economy with good jobs and good benefits for everyone.

Chrissy is a leader driven by a spirit of service. A longtime resident of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and a first-time congressional representative heading to Washington to solve real problems for the people and communities of Pennsylvania.

On November 4, 2021, Chrissy Houlahan participated in Rising Leaders Series: Meet Representative Chrissy Houlahan

Gary Ginsberg

Gary Ginsberg

Author, Lawyer, and Corporate Adviser

Gary Ginsberg is a lawyer, American political operative and corporate adviser, serving as a strategist in both the public and private sectors for more than 25 years. He was most recently the Senior Vice President and Global Head of Communications at SoftBank Group Corp. before leaving in 2020. Prior to joining SoftBank, Ginsberg served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Time Warner and as Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Corporate Affairs at News Corp.

Ginsberg began his career as a lawyer as an attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. After that he served in the Clinton Administration at the White House’s Counsel office and the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1995, Ginsberg became Senior Editor and legal counsel for George, the magazine started by John. F. Kennedy, Jr.

In 2018, after being hired by SoftBank, Ginsberg has worked on a number of initiatives including the launch of a new global website and more sophisticated video content to sharpen the company’s messaging. Ginsberg is also the author of his new book First Friends: The Powerful, Unsung (and Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents published in July 2021, which reached The New York Times Best Seller list.

On October 21, 2021, Gary Ginsberg participated in First Friends: The Powerful, Unsung (and Unelected) People Who Shaped Our President's

Tom Allon

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Tom Allon

President of City & State

Tom Allon is the president and publisher of City & State, a company dedicated to covering New York’s local and state politics and policy. 

Allon has over three decades of experience in New York’s media world, both on the publishing and editorial side of the business. He started his career in 1986 as the editor-in-chief of a weekly newspaper, The West Side Spirit, which won a number of awards for investigative reporting during his tenure. He then became the publisher and vice president of a public media company, News Communications, which owned 23 publications in the metropolitan area and Washington, D.C. He was involved in the creation of the daily Capitol Hill newspaper, The Hill, which became the inspiration for City & State. He also spent a decade building a private media company, Manhattan Media, which owned AVENUE magazine, Dan’s Papers, New York Family, five weekly newspapers in Manhattan and City & State.

On October 15, 2021, Tom Allon participated in the Meet Alvin Bragg with Tom Allon

Alvin Bragg

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Alvin Bragg

Former Chief Deputy Attorney General

Alvin Bragg has spent the better two decades in the courtroom, standing up to the powerful and fighting to get justice. Recently, Alvin Bragg served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General for New York State where he oversaw some of the office’s biggest cases, including suing Harvey Weinstein and his company for the existence of a hostile work environment; challenging the Trump administration over the census for its inclusion of a citizenship question; and bringing significant criminal charges in bribery, securities fraud, and Medicaid fraud matters.

Prior to the Attorney General’s Office, Alvin served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He successfully prosecuted corrupt politicians, both Democrat and Republican, and obtained trial verdicts convicting the owner of a multi-million dollar business for laundering millions of dollars for an international drug cartel, an FBI agent for making false statements, and individuals blocking a reproductive health facility in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Alvin Bragg has spent the better part of two decades in the courtroom, standing up to the powerful and fighting to get justice. He is now running for Manhattan District Attorney.

On October 15, 2021, Alvin Bragg participated in the Meet Alvin Bragg with Tom Allon

Wendy Davis

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Wendy Davis

Former Texas State Senator

Wendy Davis was a member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 10. She assumed office in 2009 and left in 2015 to run for Congress as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Davis ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Texas’ 21st Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Prior to assuming her position in the Texas State Senate, Wendy served on the Fort Worth City Council. Wendy Davis received her B.A. from Texas Christian University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. In 2016, Wendy Davis founded Deeds Not Words, a nonprofit aimed at getting young women involved in policy making and organizing.

On September 30, 2021, Wendy Davis participated in Roe v Wade with Wendy Davis

Alexander Vindman

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Alexander Vindman

Former Director for European Affairs for the United States National Security Council

Vindman was 3 years old in 1979, when he and his family fled Ukraine, then a Soviet republic, for the U.S. His mother died in Ukraine before they immigrated to the U.S.

Vindman and his twin also made an appearance as boys in Ken Burns’ 1985 documentary “The Statue of Liberty,” which explored how the landmark has become a symbol of hope and refuge for generations of immigrants.

From an early age, Vindman’s father worked multiple jobs to support his family, all the while learning English at night. Vindman’s father stressed the importance of fully integrating into their adopted country (U.S.). For many years, life for Vindman and his family was quite difficult. In spite of these challenges, his family worked hard to build its own American dream.

Vindman began his career taking part in the ROTC program while attending the State University of New York at Binghamton and later earned a master’s degree from Harvard University in Russian, Eastern Europe and Central Asian studies.

Earlier in his army career, he was an infantry officer and did tours in South Korea, Germany and Iraq. In October 2004, not long into his yearlong tour in Iraq, he was wounded by a roadside bomb and awarded the Purple Heart, according to the Defense Department.

Vindman was director of European Affairs at the National Security Council. He was appointed to his post at the Trump White House in 2018 and asked to stay for two years. His tasks consisted of developing, coordinating, and executing plans and policies to manage the full range of diplomatic, informational, military and economic national security for the countries in his portfolio, which included Ukraine and Russia.

Vindman had listened to the July 25, 2019 call between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the center of the impeachment inquiry. Vindman was also present in an April 21 call when Trump congratulated Zelensky on his victory. He was also tasked to attend his inauguration in May.

On September 22, 2021, Alexander Vindman participated in Alexander Vindman: Here, Right Matters

Matt Zeller

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Matt Zeller

Author, CEO, and Afghan War Veteran

Matt Zeller is an author, Afghan war veteran, and CEO of No One Left Behind. He was deployed to Afghanistan in Ghazni Province in 2008, and upon his return to the US, he worked for the CIA. He was also the Democratic nominee for New York’s 29th district in the 2010 special election for the US House of Representatives.

In 2013 Zeller founded No One Left Behind, a nonprofit organization aiming to assist Afghan and Iraqi interpreters immigrating to the United States. This organization provides assistance to these immigrants in obtaining their Special Immigrant Visas while providing financial aid, employment opportunities, and used cars.

Matt Zeller is the author of Watches Without Time: An American Soldier in Afghanistan a story that gives a vivid description of what Zeller experienced while serving as an embedded combat adviser to the Afghan Security forces in Ghazni, Afghanistan, in 2008. Matt Zeller is also a contributor to HuffPost.

On August 25, 2021, Matt Zeller participated in Afghanistan with Ambassador Peter Galbraith and the Honorable Mike Rogers

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Felicia Taylor

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Felicia Taylor

Anchor-correspondent for CNN

Felicia Taylor was an anchor-correspondent for CNN International’s World Business Today having previously been contributing to the Business Updates unit for CNN. She was also the co-host of Retirement Living TV’s Daily Cafe until November 2009. Previously, Taylor was a business news anchor and a correspondent for CNBC. Prior to CNBC, she served as weekend anchor on WNBC-TV in New York. 

Taylor was a moderator for Afghanistan with Ambassador Peter Galbraith and the Honorable Mike Rogers in 2021 and for the “Women’s Breakfast” subsection of The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards 2017, and hosted both a Special Screening of “Disturbing the Peace” and a Lunch and Discussion with: NY Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

Twitter: @ftaylorCNN

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Representative Mike Rogers

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Mike Rogers

Former U.S. Representative for Michigan's 8th congressional district

Honorary Mike Rogers, is a former member of Congress representing Michigan’s Eighth Congressional District, officer in the U.S. Army, and FBI special Agent. From his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he chaired the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and was a member of the Energy and Commerce panel. Mike built a legacy as a tireless and effective leader on counterterrorism and national security policy.

As chairman of HPSCI, Mike authorized and oversaw a budget of $70 billion that provided funding to the nation’s 17 intelligence agencies. Rogers was a prominent leader on cybersecurity in the United States Congress during his service, shepherding multiple cybersecurity bills through the House of Representatives and is a highly sought-after national expert on cyber policy.

Mike has also worked with two presidents, Congressional leadership, and countless foreign leaders, diplomats and intelligence professionals to ensure our nation is well equipped with the resources necessary to get the job done.

Mike is the host and executive producer of Declassified: Untold Stories of American Spies that airs on CNN. Hon. Mike Rogers is also a CNN national security commentator and a regular in major news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press.

On August 25, 2021, Hon. Mike Rogers participated in Afghanistan with Ambassador Peter Galbraith and the Honorable Mike Rogers.

Ambassador Peter Galbraith

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Ambassador Peter Galbraith

Author, policy adviser, former U.S. diplomat

Ambassador Peter Galbraith is an author, politician, and former United States Diplomat. From 1993 to 1998, he served as the first U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, where he was co-mediator of the 1995 Erdut Agreement that ended the Croatian War of Independence. He was a cabinet member in East Timor’s first transitional government, successfully negotiating the Timor Sea Treaty. In 2009, Ambassador Galbraith was an Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations serving as Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan. Ambassador Peter Galbraith also served two terms as a Vermont State Senator from Windham County from 2011 to 2015, and was a candidate for Governor of Vermont in 2016.

Beginning in 2003, Galbraith acted as an adviser to the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. As an author and commentator, he argued that Iraq has broken up and that the US occupation authorities should not try to build a strong central government over Kurdish objections. In 2009, Galbraith was appointed United Nations’ Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan where he contributed to exposing the massive fraud that took place in the 2009 Afghanistan Presidential Elections.

He is also the author of two critically acclaimed books on the Iraq War, including bestselling The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War Without End. In the 1980s, Galbraith uncovered the beginnings of the Anfal campaign against the Iraqi Kurds and, in 1988, documented the use of chemical weapons, leading the U.S. Senate to pass The Prevention of Genocide Act of 1988. Beginning in 2003, Ambassador Galbraith was an informal advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq, supporting the Kurdistan delegation in the drafting process of the 2005 Iraqi Constitution. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, the research arm of the Council for a Livable World.

Ambassador Galbraith was an assistant professor of International Relations and Economics at Windham College in Putney, Vermont, from 1975 to 1978. Later, he was the professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College in 1999 and between 2001 and 2003. In addition to his books, Ambassador Peter Galbraith has written extensively for a range of publications including The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Guardian.

On August 25, 2021, Ambassador Peter Galbraith participated in Afghanistan with Ambassador Peter Galbraith and the Honorable Mike Rogers.

Twitter: @GalbraithforVT

Ken Auletta

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Ken Auletta

American writer, journalist, media critic

Ken Auletta is an American journalist and media critic at The New Yorker. He has worked in government and on several political campaigns along with having taught and trained Peace Corps volunteers. In 1974, Auletta became the chief political correspondent for the New York Post. Following that, he was a staff writer and weekly columnist for The Village Voice, and then a contributing editor at New York Magazine. He started contributing to The New Yorker in 1977. Between 1977 and 1993, he wrote a weekly political column for the New York Daily News.

Auletta has been writing his column, the Annals of Communications, since 1992. He has written twelve books, including five bestsellers —Three Blind Mice: How the TV Networks Lost Their Way; Greed and Glory On Wall Street: The Fall of the House of Lehman; The Highwaymen: Warriors of the Information Super Highway; World War 3.0: Microsoft and Its Enemies; and Googled: The End Of The World As We Know It. His most recent book, Frenemies: The Epic Disruption of the Ad Business (and Everything Else), was published in June of 2018.

Before becoming a journalist and author, Auletta trained Peace Corps volunteers, served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce, and worked on Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign. 

Auletta has served as a Pulitzer Prize juror and a judge for the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists. In 2001, his profile of Ted Turner won the National Magazine Award for best profile. The New York Public Library chose him as a Literary Lion. He was also a board member for PEN, a worldwide association of writers, and a trustee of The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival. 

On July 28, 2021 Ken Auletta participated in A Conversation with American's Police Commissioner, Bill Bratton

Twitter: @kenauletta

Zachary Karabell

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dr. Zachary Karabell

Head of Global Strategy at Envestnet

Zachary Karabell is Head of Global Strategy at Envestnet, a publicly traded financial services firm, and is President of River Twice Research. Previously, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Economist, and Head of Marketing at Fred Alger Management, a New York-based investment firm that manages approximately $22 billion. He was also President of Fred Alger & Company, Portfolio Manager of the China-U.S. Growth Fund (CHUSX), and Executive Vice President of Alger’s Spectra Funds. At Alger, he oversaw the creation, launch and marketing of several funds, led corporate strategy for strategic acquisitions, and represented the firm at public forums and in the media. He also ran the River Twice Fund from 2011-2013, an alternative investment fund which used sustainable business as its primary investment theme.

Dr. Karabell has taught at several leading universities, including Harvard and Dartmouth, and has written widely on economics, investing, history and international relations. His most recent book, The Leading Indicators: A Short History of the Numbers That Rule Our World, was published by Simon & Schuster in February 2014. He is the author of eleven previous books. He sits on the board of the New America Foundation and the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, and in 2003, the World Economic Forum designated him a “Global Leader for Tomorrow.” He is a Senior Advisor for BSR, a membership organization that works with global corporations on issues of sustainability.

As a commentator, Karabell is a Contributing Editor for Politico and writes the Wealth of Nations column. Previously he wrote “The Edgy Optimist” column for Slate, Reuters, and The Atlantic. He is a regular commentator on MSNBC and was a Contributing Editor for The Daily Beast. He also contributes to such publications as The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times,The Financial Times, and Foreign Affairs.

Karabell also sits on the board of New America and PEN America. In 2003, the World Economic Forum designated him a "Global Leader for Tomorrow." As a commentator, Karabell is a Contributing Editor for Wired and for Politico, and the host of the podcast “What Could Go Right?”

On July 21, 2021 Zachary Karabell participated in The Story of American Capitalism with Zachary Karabell & Douglas Brinkley

Twitter: @zacharykarabell

Honorary Advisory Board Member: Governor Mario Cuomo ✝

“It was Mario Cuomo’s great gift and our good fortune that he was both a sterling orator and a passionate public servant. His life was a blessing,” - President Bill Clinton

Mario Cuomo was a three-term governor of New York who commanded national attention with his remarkable oratory skill. From 1983 to 1994, he led New York with a passion for problem solving and unyielding empathy for his constituents, garnering nationwide admiration. He exemplified the ideal of politicians being informed, instructive, and intellectual without condescension. A tenacious debater with a spellbinding public presence, he came to personify the liberal wing of his national party.

Cuomo was born to Andrea and Immaculata Cuomo on June 15th, 1932, in Queens, New York. His parents were Italian immigrants who arrived in the United States with no resources or local connections. They went on to open a grocery store in South Jamaica, Queens, where Cuomo worked as a child. While earning his Bachelor’s degree, Cuomo signed a contract to play center field for the Brunswick Pirates baseball team, but eventually returned to St. John’s University and graduated summa cum laude. He then attended St. John’s School of Law and graduated at the top of his class in 1956.

Cuomo’s first job in the legal profession was as an assistant to Judge Adrian P. Burke of the New York State Court of Appeals - a body Cuomo would go on to reshape by appointing all seven members, including the first woman to serve as chief judge. After entering private practice, Cuomo gained prominence defending local property owners from government seizures, and negotiating city-neighborhood disputes. He entered public life in 1974 as New York’s Secretary of State, before serving two terms as Lieutenant Governor under Governor Hugh Carey.

Cuomo with wife Matilda after Cuomo won the 1982 Democratic gubernatorial primary. 

Cuomo with wife Matilda after Cuomo won the 1982 Democratic gubernatorial primary. 

Cuomo was elected Governor of New York in 1982, and became known for his tireless work ethic and powerful, plain speaking oratory skill. In an era when liberal thought was increasingly discredited, Cuomo celebrated it, challenging Ronald Reagan at the height of his presidency with an affirmative view of government and a message of compassion. He held several positions that went against the grain of public opinion, most prominent being his opposition to the death penalty. His annual veto of the death penalty became a rite, and he invoked it as a testimony to his character and principles.

In his tenure, Cuomo improved roads, revitalized education and infrastructure in New York City, created a large homeless assistance program, invested in high tech facilities, and initiated programs to support those with AIDS and mental illnesses. He appointed the Empire State’s first two female appellate judges; including the first Hispanic judge on the tribunal.

Cuomo delivers his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, 1984.

Cuomo delivers his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, 1984.

Cuomo’s keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention eclipsed the party’s presidential nominee and established him as a national political figure. He regularly travelled across the nation, and was considered a spokesman for liberal politics. In 1986 and 1990 Cuomo won the highest margin ever for re-election to a second and third term.

Cuomo was married to his wife, Matilda, for more than six decades. They had five children, including current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Mario Cuomo passed away at the age of 82 on January 1st, 2015. 

The Common Good was honored to host Mario Cuomo in May of 2011:Manhattan Society: The Common Good Hosts Screening for “Living for 32”. He served as a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.

Selected Media:

Cuomo nominating Bill Clinton for president at the 1992 Democratic National Convention in New York.

Cuomo nominating Bill Clinton for president at the 1992 Democratic National Convention in New York.

Books:

  • Lincoln Lessons: Reflections on America's Greatest Leader. Williams, & Pederson (Eds)., Contributor Cuomo and 14 others, 2009.

  • C is for Ciao: An Italy Alphabet. Cuomo with Elissa Grodin, illustrated by Marco Ventura, 2008. 

  • As They Saw It: A Half-Century of Conversations from the Open Mind. Cuomo with Richard Heffner and Marc Jaffe, 2004. 

  • Lincoln on Democracy. Abraham Lincoln, Edited by Cuomo, & Harold Holzer, 2004. 

  • Why Lincoln Matters: Today More Than Ever. Cuomo, 2004.

  • The Blue Spruce. Cuomo,1999. 

  • Reason to Believe: A Keen Assessment of Who We Are and an Inspiring Vision of What We Could Be. Cuomo, 1996. 

  • More Than Words: The Speeches of Mario Cuomo. Cuomo, 1993

  • Diaries of M. Cuomo: The Campaign for Governor. Cuomo, 1984.

  •  Forest Hills Diary: The Crisis of Low-income Housing. Cuomo, M. 1975.

Honorary Advisory Board Member: Ed Rendell

After 34 years of public service, Governor Ed Rendell has become a champion on the issues of alternative energy and government efficiency. As the governor of Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2011, he worked to make the government more responsible and responsive to the public's needs, and he successfully cut wasteful spending and improved efficiency leading to savings of over $1 billion. He continues to pursue key issues from his time in office, striving to make America a cleaner, more efficient place and to foster investment in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. 

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Rendell served two terms as Mayor of Philadelphia and two terms as Governor of Pennsylvania. His legislative agenda focused on commonsense political reform and putting progress ahead of partisanship. As Governor, he energized Pennsylvania’s economy, revitalized communities, improved education, protected the environment, expanded access to health care to all children, and made affordable prescription drugs available to older Pennsylvanians. He also spearheaded initiatives encouraging the use of alternative and renewable energy, including wind farms and solar panels.

As Mayor, Rendell eliminated a crippling deficit, balanced the City’s budget, and generated five consecutive budget surpluses. Philadelphia’s renaissance, which The New York Times called “the most stunning turnaround in recent urban history,” is largely attributed to his determination, inspiration, and energy. The subject of the book Prayer for the City by Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Buzz Bissinger, Rendell was called “one of America’s best, most interesting mayors.” Before serving as Mayor, Rendell was elected District Attorney of Philadelphia for two terms from 1978 through 1985. Rendell also served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 Presidential election. 

In 2012, Governor Rendell penned his first book, A Nation of Wusses: How America’s Leaders Lost the Guts to Make Us Great where he chronicles his political career while making a strong statement about the state of American leadership.

Perhaps no other issue has been and continues to be as important to Rendell as America’s dire need to rebuild and reinvest in its infrastructure. He worked with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to found Building America's Future, a national infrastructure-investment coalition. Rendell currently serves as Co-Chair of the organization.

Rendell serves as a consultant or board member for several green and alternative energy firms, including Own Energy, The Efficiency Network and VNG.co. He has also remained heavily involved in the campaign for government efficiency and strategic cost cutting through his work with entities such as Government Sourcing Solutions and Public Financial Management.

He currently sits on several boards, supports multiple non-profit organizations and teaches government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania. An Army veteran, he holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Villanova Law School.

Governor Rendell discussed his book A Nation of Wusses: How America’s Leaders Lost the Guts to Make Us Great at The Common Good in 2012: Governor Ed Rendell on “A Nation of Wusses” – July 12, 2012. He was also a distinguished participant at The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards - May 27, 2016. He currently serves as a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.

Twitter:@GovEdRendell

Books:

Congresswoman Katie Porter

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Congresswoman Katie Porter represents the 45th Congressional District in Orange County, California.

In Washington, Congresswoman Porter has remained committed to putting Orange County families first. As a member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee and Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, she’s asked tough questions of bank CEOs and administration officials to hold them accountable to the American people. She’s also a proud member of the House Natural Resources Committee, where she works tirelessly to protect our beaches and public lands, elevate science-based solutions to the climate crisis, and keep Orange County families safe from wildfires. She chairs the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, where she leads efforts to hold polluters accountable.

Eager to invite families into the conversations happening in the halls of Congress, Rep. Porter has developed a reputation for her use of visual aids during Congressional hearings. She wielded a whiteboard while grilling the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, over how an entry-level employee at his bank couldn’t make ends meet. She also used her signature whiteboard to break down potential cost barriers to COVID-19 tests, which helped her secure a commitment from the Trump Administration to make testing free for every American.

Rep. Porter has also published several reports that break down issues and identify solutions on behalf of Orange County families. She’s exposed how Big Pharma’s mergers and acquisitions destroy innovation and harm patients, shined a spotlight on how the coronavirus pandemic is disproportionately burdening working women, blasted the Trump Administration for mismanaging medical supplies during a pandemic, and detailed how the Trump tax law hurts Orange County homeowners.

On June 30 2021, Katie Porter participated in Rising Leaders Series: Meet Representative Katie Porter



Honorary Advisory Board Member: Kay Koplovitz

Kay Koplovitz is a groundbreaking leader in the television and media industry. She is the founder of USA Network and the first woman in history to head a television network. She is also the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the dual revenue streams of licensing and advertising. She was the Chairperson and CEO of USA Network until the company was sold for $4.5 billion in 1998. In 1992, she launched the Syfy Channel, which became a top ten rated cable network known for innovative drama and mini-series.

Koplovitz during the early years at USA Network

Koplovitz during the early years at USA Network

Koplovitz has also figured as a major pioneer in sports television.  She launched major professional and collegiate sports on cable television by negotiating the first contracts for cable coverage of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and the US Tennis Open. Under her leadership, the USA Network reached first place in cable prime time ratings, where it remained for 14 years. 

A very significant focus now for Koplovitz is helping advance the companies and careers of women entrepreneurs. She is the Chair of Springboard Enterprises, the premier platform for women entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts dedicated to building scalable, sustainable women-led companies.
In 1998, President Clinton appointed Koplovitz to chair the bipartisan National Women’s Business Council. She used this platform to launch Springboard Enterprises, in a move to get women entrepreneurs to “think big” about their growth companies and to raise venture capital to fund them.

As one of today’s leading women in business, Koplovitz has penned, Bold Women, Big Ideas: Learning to Play the High-Risk Entrepreneurial Game, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity. In February 2015 she introduced and edited, Been There, Run That, an anthology of best practices from Springboard entrepreneurs who have “been there, run that.” She is a sought after speaker and commentator on subjects ranging from women’s leadership, women’s entrepreneurship, capital formation, creating a human capital ecosystem, to emerging media and management, and corporate board governance.

UBS conference, “Revitalizing America, The Road to Sustainable Growth” (in picture L to R) Jacqueline Novogratz,  President Bill Clinton, Kay Koplovitz, David Gergen, President George W. Bush.

UBS conference, “Revitalizing America, The Road to Sustainable Growth” (in picture L to R) Jacqueline Novogratz,  President Bill Clinton, Kay Koplovitz, David Gergen, President George W. Bush.

Koplovitz currently serves on the Boards of Ion Media Networks and Veniam; she previously chaired Liz Claiborne (later Kate Spade); and served on several major company boards, including the boards of CA Technologies, Time Inc, Oracle, Nabisco, Instinet, and General RE. She also has been a long-term trustee for The International Tennis Hall of Fame and trustee (currently emeritus) of The Paley Center for Media. In 2017, she was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.

Koplovitz participated in The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards, 2019 on May 10, 2019. She spoke on the “Women & Power” panel alongside former Congresswoman Mia Love, Alessandra Stanley, and Sally Quinn, moderated by Juju Chang. She also serves as a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.

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