After 25 years working in higher education in the mid-west—faculty, academic administration, consulting—Sam returned to the Tenderloin to live and work as part of a community committed to the incredible worth of every human being. This is a key element of the Fools mission statement and it drives Sam’s sense of commitment to human rights and human dignity. Sam is also a natural Fool in the sense of the court jester who crosses boundaries, speaks plainly to both the people on the street and to power, no matter who wields it. Sam plays the role of Board Chair anchored by poetry and inspired by the work of the HRTC leadership and staff.