Burns Strider, a native of Grenada County, Mississippi, served in an array of positions, prior to founding Eleison and The American Values Network, including Senior
Advisor and Director of Faith Outreach to the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign for President, Director of Policy for the U. S. House Democratic Caucus, Advisor to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) , Director of the U. S. House Democratic Faith Working Group and Rural Working Group and regional Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Strider and his wife Karen life in Washington DC with their two nearly perfect boys, Will and Pete.