Dr. John M. Perkins (Seattle, WA) is the found and president emeritus of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and cofounder of Christian Community Development Association. He has served in advisory roles under five U.S. presidents, is one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement, and is an author and international speaker on issues of reconciliation, leadership, and community development. For his tireless work, he has received fourteen honorary doctorates.

Karen Waddles (Chicago, IL) is a graduate of DePaul University and is completing a MASF at Moody Theological Seminary. She is a contributing writer to One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race (Moody Publishers), Our Voices: Issues Facing Black Women in America (Moody Publishers), The Women of Color Study Bible (Nia Publishing), and the Sisters in Faith Devotional Bible (Thomas Nelson).