Geek Out for Good: Apps that Change the World
Could your app save someone's life?
Internet access is growing rapidly in the developing world. Networked software can help marginalized individuals and communities empower themselves, coordinate limited resources and create new economic opportunities, but only if that software is built with the unique needs and constraints of that community in mind.
Developers are searching for ways that they can build something meaningful that creates lasting impact. And companies like Twitter are already affecting everything from politics to commerce worldwide - in ways that are both positive and negative.
This practical panel brings together representatives of grassroots technology organizations (Digital Democracy) and major platform providers (GitHub, NationBuilder and Change.org) to share stories, ideas and resources that any software provider can use to serve diverse communities in an effective and positive way.
Geek out for good! Make an app that changes the world.
Presenters
Allie Carter
Dir of Dig Strategy
Center for Community Change
Allie Carter is Director of Digital Strategy for the Center for Community Change, an organization that builds the power and capacity of low-income communities, especially low-income communities of color. Prior to this role, she worked as Online Communications Director for Reform Immigration FOR America, an online campaign advocating for comprehensive immigration reform in the US. She also previously worked with Avaaz.org, Greenpeace USA and the Alliance for Climate Protection. Allie's expertise is in online organizing, advocacy and mobilization with a focus on intersectionality.
Brian Doll
VP of Mktg
GitHub
Brian Doll is a business and technology hacker who has been building and selling things on the web for over 17 years.
After a dozen years in software development and engineering management, Brian is now focused on scaling businesses through marketing and business development.
Dan Walmsley
CTO
NationBuilder
Daniel Walmsley is the Chief Technology Officer at NationBuilder. He has been a software developer and entrepreneur for 15 years.
A veteran of four technology startups, Dan was the first CTO of Purpose: an incubator for movements and campaigns powered by online tools. In this role, Dan worked with veteran strategist from Avaaz.org, MoveOn.org, GetUp.org.au and others to create new movements - most notably AllOut.org, a global LGBT campaigning organization that grew to over half a million members in just 4 months.
Prior to his campaigning work Dan developed software for the aerospace, finance, pharmaceutical and education industries while also pursuing a career in entertainment, appearing as an Internet culture commentator on numerous television shows in Australia before producing and directing his own weekly variety show, Planet Nerd.
Lawrence Grodeska
Dir of Nonprofit Community
Change.org
As Director of Nonprofit Community at Change.org, Lawrence helps organizations leverage the world’s largest action platform to connect with new supporters to achieve real change.
Lawrence manages communications with thousands of nonprofits through webinars, public speaking, social media and email to share tools and resources for effective online advocacy and fundraising. Prior to Change.org, Lawrence served as Internet Communications Coordinator at San Francisco’s Environment Department, where he launched the city’s first mobile app.
Offline, Lawrence lives the good life in San Francisco, where he enjoys bicycles, beauty, and song. He is a card-carrying member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and created a musical PSA for San Francisco’s best bicycle route, the Wiggle.
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