Barbara Elliott

Barbara J. Elliott is the founder of the Center for Cultural Renewal, a resource center she founded in 1997 for faith-based organizations working to renew the cities of America. She is also the founder of the WorkFaith Connection, which has been serving people leaving homelessness, prison, drug addiction and joblessness. Since its beginning in 2007, they have transitioned more than 2,000 people into a new job and a new life, through faith. The Manhattan Institute honored the WorkFaith Connection with the 2011 Social Entrepreneurship Award and World magazine gave it the 2012 Award for Effective Compassion. She is the author of the 2004 book Street Saints: Renewing America’s Cities and a companion volume, Equipping the Saints. She earned a B.A. in English literature and fine arts from Ohio Wesleyan University, did graduate work in political science at George Washington University, and earned an M.A. in theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Ms. Elliott received an honorary doctorate from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in 2006.