Faith in Action Breakfast

John Benton is an economist and executive leader whose career bridges data-informed policy, economic analysis, and place-based social change. He serves as Executive Director at Dream Center Evansville, where he oversees the organization’s programs and operations, including strategic programming, financial stewardship, human resources, asset management, and data systems.

John led the launch of the cradle-to-career initiative in the Jacobsville neighborhood in 2018, which now serves as a foundational program within the Evansville Promise Neighborhood. In this role, Dream Center Evansville operates as a key technical partner in delivering the Promise to Jacobsville families by providing targeted, equity-centered supports to youth and households.

Previously, John served as Senior Manager of Insight and Analytics at StriveTogether, a nationally recognized nonprofit network advancing outcomes for more than 5 million youth across over 70 communities in the United States. At StriveTogether, he led the national Civic Infrastructure Assessment, a comprehensive evaluation of cradle-to-career systems to measure their capacity to produce faster, better, and more equitable results for youth. His work included coaching national education leaders, conducting federal policy analysis, and leading high-level presentations on systems-change strategies.

John holds a Master of Science in Economics from Purdue University, with a focus on education, labor, and public policy economics. He also holds a Master of Social Work from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Moody Bible Institute. With a deep commitment to human flourishing, John uses economic thinking to guide transformative, community-centered approaches to social impact.