There are two ways of spreading light... to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Rachael Ramen
Debra J. Berg, Author and Speaker
Debra Berg was busy running a Minneapolis-based marketing company when she happened across everyday heroes who were inventing cures to tough community problems. These were nagging problems like gangs, crime and substandard housing conditions for the disabled and poor. Their homegrown cures had proven to work and their strategies were confounding the experts. Why? They were solving chronic social problems on less money and more quickly than most governmental agencies.
Intrigued thanks to an earlier career in legislative policy, Debra proceeded to research dozens of individuals just like these across the country. In her subsequent book, she chronicles 35 heroes and their proven initiatives. She spotlights one woman who spearheaded the reversal of a "Top 10 worst neighborhoods in America". Another who crafted the idea for the national Amber Alert program and who was recognized at the White House. Another who "faxed the President" to purchase a land on a decommissioned Air Force Base to house special needs foster kids. And an NFL player who gave up his career to help reverse Philadelphia's poorest neighborhood. Debra's book, The Power of One: Why we should pay attention to the disruptive ideas of everyday hereos changing America, has received endorsements from the Pew Foundation, the Chicago Sun-Times and others.
But Debra's journey didn't end there. Her curiosity led her to pursue more than one hundred interviews. She brings to light the "story behind the story" telling of personal sacrifices by former business owners, professors, moms, and even teens who solved what experts consider to be some of the most difficult social challenges across America. And she addresses why they would consider giving up so much of their personal lives and resources to tackle problems that trained bureaucrats haven't been able to solve. Full bio...
Intrigued thanks to an earlier career in legislative policy, Debra proceeded to research dozens of individuals just like these across the country. In her subsequent book, she chronicles 35 heroes and their proven initiatives. She spotlights one woman who spearheaded the reversal of a "Top 10 worst neighborhoods in America". Another who crafted the idea for the national Amber Alert program and who was recognized at the White House. Another who "faxed the President" to purchase a land on a decommissioned Air Force Base to house special needs foster kids. And an NFL player who gave up his career to help reverse Philadelphia's poorest neighborhood. Debra's book, The Power of One: Why we should pay attention to the disruptive ideas of everyday hereos changing America, has received endorsements from the Pew Foundation, the Chicago Sun-Times and others.
But Debra's journey didn't end there. Her curiosity led her to pursue more than one hundred interviews. She brings to light the "story behind the story" telling of personal sacrifices by former business owners, professors, moms, and even teens who solved what experts consider to be some of the most difficult social challenges across America. And she addresses why they would consider giving up so much of their personal lives and resources to tackle problems that trained bureaucrats haven't been able to solve. Full bio...
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Debra is a best-selling author, inspirational speaker, and an expert on the topic of America's human service nonprofit founders. Her professional life went in a new direction after eight years interviewing these amazing people. Today she speaks and writes about heroes who've invested personal lives, 401Ks, and 6-figure incomes to help thousands. How were they able to accomplish what the experts haven't and why do they do it? Talk shows hosts are always curious about the answers to these questions. Debra's research identifies the parallels between the lives of founders. Typically, they survived a childhood trauma or experienced a difficult life event that fueled their passion to reach out to others. The issues they take on address every possible social problem from poverty to cybercrime!
Debra is on a mission to convey the positive impact citizen innovators are having on America. Given the abundance of negative news, spontaneous citizen innovation is viewed with skepticism. Yet, Debra will boldly take on even the toughest skeptic with her iron-clad evidence that underscores the effectiveness of social cures crafted by everyday heroes. |
Click Here to learn more about The Power of One: Why we should pay attention to the disruptive ideas of everyday heroes changing America.
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Visit the National Institute for Civic Enterprise (NICEnetwork.org) website to read more about innovative change makers shaping the "The New Civic America". Debra launched NICE in 2007, recognizing that leaders like those in her book needed to connect with one another in order to share new ideas and experiences. One other important reason was to reduce the tendency for new founders to reinvent the wheel and duplicate what others had done in other parts of the country. Overall, the mission of NICE is to: 1) focus on reducing duplication of effort in the nonprofit community, 2) spotlight the best practices of what's already working, and, 3) share these proven initiatives with new and seasoned founders and nonprofit professionals so as to speed up help to more of those in need.
Debra is developing a unique training curriculum, "Teach-A- Cause", which offers the experiential knowledge of seasoned nonprofit founders via online webinars and mentoring. The ultimate goal is to build a site that facilitates the connection of new founders and nonprofit executives with seasoned founder-mentors. NICE has already directed groundbreaking "founder" research to foster the replication of highly effective, low-cost solutions. It is funded through nonprofit consulting services including coaching, social media/video production and speaking/training engagements under the umbrella of NICE Change Productions. |
Debra has spoken to conventions as large as 10,000 and to smaller "lunch and learn" and breakout groups. High praise and positive feedback is common among those who've read her books and heard her speak. Debra's message inspires others to launch new causes and businesses, become more focused managers and leaders, or decide to volunteer for the first time. Her most popular keynote, The Power of One, is adaptable to any venue and audience. In addition, Debra speaks on topics such as Change Your Pain, Change the Future drawing on her business expertise and the turnaround stories of amazing cause leaders like: a Nazi Germany survivor, a former drug addict and cancer victim, a businessman who went bankrupt in the DotCom bust, and a domestic abuse victim. Each story is focused on how each sublimated their pain to fuel their success. Her message is guaranteed to positively transform the attitudes and perspectives of any audience! Arrange for Debra to speak to your group.
