Unavailable Innovation: Why You Must Make Your Ideas Accessible

The impact of our ideas is directly related to who can access
and benefit from them. That's why it's as important to spend time not just
thinking about–and innovating upon – what your idea is, but also how it will
reach the right people. We must challenge ourselves to think and innovate
all the way through our ideas and products to give them the best chance to
improve people's lives and change the world.
Garlin Gilchrist (BSE CE/CS "05)is Detroit's first Deputy Technology
Director for Civic Community Engagement. His job is to open up the
city's public data and information for the consumption and benefit of all
Detroiters. He most recently served as the
National Campaign Director at MoveOn.org,
where he focused on mobilizing MoveOn's
seven million members on issues of civil
rights, education, and technology policy
advocacy through community organizing
and online action. He coordinated MoveOn's
2012 election mobilization program, Voters
Rising. He also co-hosted The #WinReport
on "The Good Fight," an award winning,
nationally syndicated radio show that was
one of Apple's Best of 2013.

After graduating from Michigan, Garlin
became a Software Engineer at Microsoft,
where he helped build SharePoint into the
fastest growth product in the company's
history. He served as Social Media
Manager for the 2008 Obama campaign in
Washington, and then became Director of
New Media at the Center for Community
Change.

As an independent consultant, Garlin has
provided strategy and technology support
to numerous organizations with regard to
online advocacy. His past clients include the
NAACP and Johnson Publishing Company.