“GOV” like A Maker: Applying the Maker Mindset to Public Service

Makers and artists imagine, inspire, and innovate. The growth of the Maker Movement–a movement characterized by applied creativity in unconventional ways–has sparked a national discussion on how we approach complexity in a range of fields, including education, medicine, and manufacturing. A sense of play, openness to experimentation, and a fierce drive to build better together are the hallmarks of the maker mindset. What if we applied the maker mindset to our work as public servants to “gov like a maker”? Drawing on my experience as a member of the National Week of Making federal inter-agency workgroup and as a program specialist in an agency that celebrates the arts as a national priority, this talk will provide insights on the maker traits that can turn ideas into solutions. NextGen leaders will be motivated to build, hack, and jam their way through challenges and silos–no 3D printer required!