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Vilas Dhar Highlight
Why social movements are so powerful is because we quickly move from a ‘me’ to an ‘us.’ And when we do, we create things that last, that create legacies.
About Vilas
- I grew up in rural Illinois, raised by immigrant parents and shaped by the contrast between my town, rural India, and a nearby supercomputing center.
- Early on, I became fascinated by technology’s potential and its limits, especially when I saw who was being left out.
- My first computer science project used AI to uncover untold community histories in East St. Louis, combining tech with social justice.
- After working in tech, I went to law school and chose a path in human rights, traveling globally to support communities in crisis.
- I built a law firm, founded tech startups, and later became a fellow at Harvard University, focused on social change and equity.
- Frustrated with how traditional philanthropy worked, I began speaking out—which eventually got me in the door at the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.
- At the foundation, I lead strategy across boardrooms and codebases, building AI tools that embed dignity and justice.
- Looking back, I’ve realized there’s no single path—just a series of bold steps guided by purpose, community, and hope.