Debra Schweiger Berg

Debra is on a mission to tell the nation about an eye-opening new trend transforming America: Citizens are coming up with once-and-for-all cures to the nation's most pressing social ills and they're succeeding!

The former radio talk show host on VoiceAmerica.com, "The Power of One: What's Your Mission? launched a trek to thirty cities from 1995 to 2003. She uncovered the successes of individuals spanning all ages, races, and backgrounds who were sacrificing personal lives and wealth to craft actual social cures to poverty, at-risk youth, and other chronic problems in their communities. Debra calls this unfolding drama of citizen involvement "The New Civic America," which she says, "has already saved taxpayers billions and rescued thousands of lives. The trend is replicating and is spreading to communities all across the country.

Debra's research culminated in a book, The Power of One: The Unsung Everyday Heroes Rescuing America’s Cities. Since its release, she's been interviewed by the Chicago Sun Times and dozens of radio and TV stations across the nation. She holds book signings and speaks regularly before a wide range of audiences inspiring them to become more engaged, volunteer, and recognize and support the civic and social entrepreneurs in their communities. Debra Berg's groundbreaking work has received growing attention by the media, the business community, nonprofits, academia, and foundations.

In 2008, Debra founded and became the Director of the National Institute for Civic Enterprise (the NICEnetwork) in partnership with the Lake Eustis Institute and the Lake Community Foundation. Together, their mission is to engage civic and social entrepreneurs by assisting them in the expansion, improvement, and replication of their innovative social solutions. Debra is also a nonprofit trainer for initiatives throughout Central Florida.

A native of East Central Illinois, Debra holds degrees in political science/economics and public administration (MPA) from the University of Illinois. While there, she was recognized as a Charles E. Merriam Scholar for research of Illinois local government. Later, she expanded her educational experience working in Washington, D.C. for a U.S. congressman during the Watergate hearings and as an editor for the IRS Statistics Division.

From the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, when few women were employed on legislative staffs, Debra held positions in three states. She was a finance analyst for the Illinois Senate Appropriations and Local Government Committees and a budget and program analyst for the Kentucky Legislative Research and Minnesota Legislative Audit Commissions. During her combined tenure, she authored studies in the areas of welfare, education, and chemical dependency comprising billions in social spending.

Debra left the public policy arena when Minnesota's largest HMO recruited her as a senior finance analyst. Eventually, she capitalized on those skills to establish a successful marketing and training company spanning the U.S., Mexico, and the Netherlands. TeamNet International reached the top two percent of sales volumes for all U.S. micro-enterprise businesses. That led to Debra’s eventual recruitment by the wireless and protocol software industries.

Since 1994, the author has reinvested her public policy and business experience in her new passion, the civic and social entrepreneurs of America. In 2003, Debra established Power of One Publishing, LLC. As its president, she directs a research, publishing, and speaking effort promoting the achievements of civic entrepreneurs. Her messages reach policymakers, nonprofit founders, businesses, youth, and volunteers with her talks on “The New Civic America,” “The Power of One,” and “HEROBIZ: How Your Business Can Change the World!"

Other books:
Living In Abundance, Wake Up and Live series (co-author with Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, Michael Beckwith, and others)