Evenings at Acton University 2026

Magatte Wade advocates for prosperity in Africa through entrepreneurship, economic freedom, and access to affordable, reliable, and abundant energy. As a Senegalese entrepreneur who has created companies on both continents, she knows firsthand how the absence of economic freedom and energy in Africa prevents African entrepreneurs from building life-saving prosperity. A winner of the Julian Simon Award and immortalized in a Tuttle Twins episode, she is a champion for Prosperity Not Poverty and serves on the advisory board of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship as well as the board of Trustees of the John Templeton Foundation. She is the author of The Heart of a Cheetah. and the forthcoming Ethical Startup Cities. She was featured in three award winning documentaries, “Poverty Inc”, “Made in Mekhe” and  “She Rises Up.” 

Daron Babcock

Daron is referred to as a “social entrepreneur,” having started multiple successful social ventures; Bonton Honey Company, The Market at Bonton Farms, Bonton Farms Coffee House, Bonton Farmers Market, The Preservatory, and CityBuild Housing. Of all his ventures, the most notable, though, is Bonton Farms, one of the largest urban farms in the United States nestled in a once-forgotten neighborhood in South Dallas. 

Daron is also a perpetual visionary and re-inventor of what’s possible. Bonton Farms is so much more than a farm, it is the catalyst that is creating systemic change necessary so the residents of Bonton and others from marginalized neighborhoods all over the country can fully realize the full potential created in them.

Daris Lee

Daris Lee grew up in Bonton learning to survive in the streets where he recalls feeling unphased by dangerous encounters — such as the time he was shot. Unconcerned for his own life, Daris earned his reputation in the streets. His lifestyle finally caught up to him when he was arrested and sent to prison for aggravated robbery and drug possession.

Almost five and half years later, Daris was released and committed to getting his life on track — but before he could even get his feet on the ground, he was pulled over and arrested for a laundry list of unpaid tickets and fines that, unbeknownst to him, had been accumulating while he was serving time. Overwhelmed by the prospect of paying off tens of thousands of dollars in debt, he found himself no less a prisoner at that point than while he had been locked up. Chronic stress led to high blood pressure, which ultimately landed him in the hospital where he was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease.

With his kidneys failing, Daris was now a prisoner in his own body, too. In the face of death, he experienced a “light switch moment” that changed everything. If he were to survive, he wanted to live. Tired of struggling, fighting, and hurting, he looked to his community — a community he feels he robbed for so many years ­­— and vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to making amends and becoming a warrior for positive change.

Daris joined up with Daron Babcock in 2010, when his story helped imagine what would eventually become Bonton Farms. Although Daris has been involved since the farm's conception, he "officially" joined Bonton Farms in 2021 as the Health & Wellness Manager. Leveraging his personal journey, he now helps guide the organization’s Health & Wellness initiatives to lead his community toward better outcomes.

Daris is a shining example of how redemption and transformation are absolutely possible. He reminds us each day that attitude, gratitude, and a good sense of humor can change your life. You will almost never find him not smiling or laughing – and we are grateful for the bright light he shines everywhere he goes.

Doug DeVos is Co-Chair of Amway, the world’s largest direct-selling company, where he spent most of his professional career over 31 years, serving 16 years as President and Co-Chair since 2019. 

He serves as Chair of the DeVos Family Office, RDV Corporation, and is a board member of the family’s investment company, Ottawa Avenue Private Capital.  Doug serves on the Board of the Orlando Magic, which the family has owned since 1991.  Doug and his wife, Maria, are Founders of Continuum –an investment and management company for The Doug & Maria DeVos Family.

Doug is actively involved in the community and with numerous organizations committed to creating opportunity for all.  He is Chairman – Frederick Douglass Society for Stand Together, an organization dedicated to helping people realize their potential by addressing society’s biggest challenges.  He is the immediate past Chair and current Chair of the President’s Council of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.  He is involved in many Michigan business and civic organizations, including the West Michigan Policy Forum, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Corewell Health, and the Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation. In 2025, he re-released his father’s first book, Believe!, originally published in 1975 and renewed for a 50th anniversary edition and in recognition of America’s 250th. He serves as the Editor in Chief of The Believe! Journal.

He's a passionate sailor and serves as Principal and Board Member of the American Magic, a professional sailing franchise that was a challenger in the America’s Cup regatta in 2020 and 2024.  He is also a co-founder of the 52 Super Series and President of the TP52S sailing class. 

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Business and played on the football team during his time at Purdue.

Doug and Maria are people of deep faith and active members of the Keystone Community Church. They have four married children and six grandchildren.  

Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer

The Bahnsen Group

David L. Bahnsen is the founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a national private wealth management firm with offices in Newport Beach, New York City, Bend, Nashville, Minneapolis, Austin, Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Dallas, and Grand Rapids, managing over $9 billion in client assets.

David is consistently named one of the top financial advisors in America by Barron’s, Forbes, and the Financial Times. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC, and Bloomberg and is a regular contributor to National Review and World. He appears weekly on The World and Everything in It discussing the week’s economic and market news.

David is a founding Trustee for Pacifica Christian High School of Orange County and serves on the Board of Directors for the Acton Institute and National Review. He is the Senior Fellow of Economics for the Center for Cultural Leadership, and a long-time faculty member for both the Acton Institute and the Blackstone Fellowship of the Alliance Defending Freedom. David is passionate about the integration of faith and economics and has lectured and written for years about a theology of wealth and the marketplace. He responds to the term, “Kuyperian,” is deeply appreciative of Tim Keller and Father Robert Sirico, and has read more systematic theology than any human should ever read. His late father, Dr. Greg Bahnsen, was a renowned Christian apologist and is David’s personal hero and mentor.

He is the author of several best-selling books including Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It (2018), The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a Post-Crisis World (2019), and There’s No Free Lunch: 250 Economic Truths (2021). David’s newest book, Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, was released in February 2024.

His ultimate passions are his wife of 22+ years, Joleen, their children, sons Mitchell and Graham, and daughter Sadie, and the life they’ve created together on both coasts.