Over the last decade, Jake has been generally obsessed with solving critical social problems at scale – though no problem more so than making citizens’ voices have real impact in executive offices and the halls of government.

Today, Jake leads the External Affairs team at Change.org with the aim to remake the relationship between decision-makers (e.g. government or corporate leaders) and the 60 million Change.org users around the world impacted by their decisions. It’s time for advocacy to allow citizens to work with decision makers, not just at them.

Jake also serves as co-founder and board chair of Define American with Jose Antonio Vargas, where their work has included reframing the narrative of the American immigration debate in media and culture – including the cover of TIME magazine and the recently released CNN Films documentary “Documented.” Some of his other work has included leading the engagement division of the Sunlight Foundation, launching a first-of-its-kind White House initiative on Veteran employment with Code for America, helping create US Ignite – a national “gigabit” initiative to transform healthcare, education, transportation and more through next-generation Internet applications – and designing the national Civic Data Challenge, helping bring critical “civic health” data to civic decision-makers in ways they can actually use it.

Outside the office, Jake is a competitive triathlete, a widely published photographer, and serves in a variety of advisory and board roles with organizations building healthier democracy.