“Every once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right”—Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead)Derek Johnson is responsible for the strategy and grant making at Stand Together, a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. Stand Together’s comprehensive approach includes partnerships with thousands of nonprofit leaders and university scholars, Fortune 50 CEOs and philanthropists, NFL legends, civil rights leaders, Grammy and Oscar-winning musicians and filmmakers, tens of thousands of educators, and millions of grassroots policy activists. Derek serves as the executive director of both the Stand Together Trust and Stand Together Foundation and has held leadership positions within the Stand Together community for over 15 years. He also serves on the boards of the Abundance Institute, VELA Education Fund, and Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University. Derek lives with his family in Alexandria, VA.Stand Together's work is characterized by the principles of human progress: 1. Dignity: a deep belief in, and respect for, the inherent worth of every person--as articulated in the Declaration of Independence--that enables people to live their lives as they see fit with due regard for the equal and inalienable rights of others and assurance of equal protection for those rights under the law.2. Openness: the free movement of ideas, resources and people generates knowledge, innovation, and opportunity, fueling progress throughout society. 3. Bottom up: people succeed when their interaction is organized by abstract rules of just conduct rather than having to agree on concrete aims, enabling those with personal knowledge of a problem to discover solutions that get the best results.4. Mutual Benefit: people succeed by creating value for others, motivating them to assist rather than harm one another.5. Self Actualization: people live lives of meaning and contribution when they continually discover, develop, and apply their unique gifts.