Laurie Grossman co-founded Mindful Schools, a public/private partnership program (one of the largest in the country), sponsored by Park Day School in Oakland, California. [www.mindfulschools.org]

Gay Hendricks has served for more than 30 years as one of the major contributors to the fields of relationship transformation and body-mind therapies. [www.hendricks.com]

In her new book, The Afterlife of Billy Fingers: How My Bad-Boy Brother Proved to Me There's Life After Death, Dr. Annie Kagan shares the extraordinary story of her after death communications with her brother Billy. [www.anniekagan.com]

John Mackey, Chairman and CEO of Whole Foods Market, is a leading practitioner of empowerment management. He co-founded FLOW, a think tank focusing on "Liberating the Entrepreneurial Spirit for Good." [www.wholefoodsmarket.com]

Using her psychology background and experiences – in settings as diverse as jails, middle schools, and boardrooms – Michelle Welsch founded Project Exponential, a series of curated networking experiences delighting people into personal growth. [www.projectexponential.com]

Eric Handler is the co-founder of Positively Positive, an online multimedia platform known for its creative content designed to inspire readers to live fully and connected and to ignite the fire inside of them. [www.positivelypositive.com]

Maggie Wheeler is a mother, actress, voice-over artist, and co-director of the Golden Bridge Community Choir. Through her vocal workshop, Singing In The Stream, she invites people to step into to the joy of singing in community. [www.maggiewheeler.net]

One of the world's best known mediators, William Ury co-founded the Harvard Negotiation Project and has co-authored global bestsellers about negotiation and peacemaking. [www.williamury.com]

Jan Shepherd is a transformational coach and a featured blogger on The Huffington Post. [www.janshepherd.com]

John Groberg is a husband, father, serial entrepreneur, writer, and executive coach. His writing and coaching focuses on assisting others to grow in their own clarity. [http://johngroberg.com]

Margalit Ward is an ICF-Certified Life and Executive Coach and co-founder of Get Up Girl Coaching, which specializes in women's empowerment programs. [www.getupgirl.com]

Parris Whittingham is a relationship photographer and creative producer. Based in NYC, he collaborates with a select couples and business clients to unleash their stories. [fromparriswithlove.com]

Personal coach and business consultant Lisa Peake founded Peake Productivity, offering productivity coaching, training, and workshops to professionals and organizations seeking a better way to work. [www.peakeproductivity.com]

Chris Cade is a spiritual author, speaker, impassioned parent, entrepreneur, and professional empowerment artist enabling people to discover their innate joy, peace, and abundance. [www.chriscade.com]

Tiffany Michelle broke records at the World Series of Poker for largest field ever conquered by a female in live tournament history. She also competed as part of the only female team on the fifteenth season of The Amazing Race. [www.tiffanymichelle.com]

1960s radical Nick Abson ran an iconic recording studio and film company in London. His subsequent work as a director led him to become a pioneer in hydrogen fuel cells.

Alexandra Franzen is a promotional writer and pro-active pimp who wrangles communications for pro-bloggers and helps entrepreneurs expand their empires--without the hassle of cloning. [www.alexandrafranzen.com]

Jeff Semigran is a senior at UC Berkeley studying environmental and civil engineering. He is an alumnus of the Teen Insight Seminars and Leadership series. This piece is part of the Insight University and Life By Me week of giving back. www.givingtuesday.org/insight-university

Jasmine Aziz is a retired vibrator seller who used to do in-home party presentations. Her novel, Sex & Samosas, helps both men and women navigate the subtle complexities of the modern woman life. [www.jasmineaziz.com]

Two truths and a lie about Rama Hughes: He dropped out of school to work on a farm. About 15 years before they met, he described his wife accurately in a letter. He wrestled bear cubs while working as a zookeeper. [www.ramahughes.com]

Elaine Norton is a single 60-something mama. She has been Registered Nurse for over forty years, currently working for an Infectious Diseases specialist in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her daughter, Erin, lives in Los Angeles.

Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]

An expert in the fields of charisma and leadership, Olivia Fox Cabane has lectured at Stanford, Yale, Harvard, MIT and the United Nations. She helps people become more persuasive, influential, and inspiring. [www.AskOlivia.com]

Artist Daniel Maltzman's work draws from contemporary influences and incorporates a pop-culture bent. He's the new name on the short list of savvy art collectors. [www.danielmaltzman.com]