For the past seventeen years John has been the national leader of the Public Interest Program (PIP) established by Princeton Project 55 (PP55), an organization of alumni of Princeton University. The Public Interest Program seeks to prepare the next generation of non-profit leaders by providing a one-year Fellowship experience in nonprofits addressing significant social issues. Over 1300 Princeton graduates have been placed through this program. In addition PP55 has stimulated the development of similar programs in over twenty other colleges and universities. In Chicago, John has organized a weekly seminar for the Chicago Fellows. In 2007-08 there are 36 Fellows in the seminar from Princeton, Northwestern, and the University of Chicago.

John is an ordained Presbyterian minister who served a congregation in Michigan before coming to Chicago in 1963. While working on his doctorate John became involved in and wrote about two different community organizations founded by Saul Alinsky. He then helped found the Urban Studies Program of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest where he taught for 28 years. Through this experiential semester for college students, John continued his involvement in a wide variety of urban community building initiatives. He has a particular interest in health care and youth development. 

In 1984 John went to Nicaragua with Witness for Peace which began a growing commitment to social justice issues in Central America expressed through his participation in the Sanctuary Movement and his ongoing involvement in the Central American ministry of University Church in Chicago.

The ABCD approach has informed his thinking about urban issue since he first became involved in the Woodlawn Organization in Chicago and continues to influence his current work with young college graduates in the PP55 Public Interest Program.

John graduated from Princeton University and Union theological Seminar and has his PhD from the University of Chicago. He has written The Edge of the Ghetto and Black Power/White Control   More information on his current work can be found on the PP55 website, www.project55.org.