Meet an innoFaither: Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes
Meet Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, Inaugural Director of the Technology, Innovation & Digital Engagement Lab (TIDEL) Fellowship at Union Theological Seminary, as well as pastor, author, public theologian, coach, brand strategist, and more. Among other highlights, Dr. Gabby co-founded and co-pastors The Double Love Experience Church in Brooklyn, NY, has been featured in an HBO Max Docu-Series as well as a PBS documentary by Skip Gates, and co-authored the best-selling book, Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation. Before all that, she was a publicist in the music industry. Faith, leadership, and innovation have been threads through Dr. Gabby’s numerous and impressive endeavors, and continue to guide her in her latest role supporting faith sector leaders to creatively use technology to address critical challenges.
What faith(s), if any, do you practice? How does your tradition and/or spiritual practice inspire or influence you as an innovator?
I am a Christian. I’m deeply inspired to do the work of innovation because I am a child of God and God is our master creator. I like to say that God is a creative. Genesis 1:1 reminds us in the beginning, God created…and it was good. I take inspiration from the fact that the earth as we know it was intentionally created by God. What dynamic innovation!
What are you currently working on?
I lead the Technology, Innovation & Digital Engagement Lab Fellowship at Union Theological Seminary. In this work, I oversee 41 fellows and a team of 4 design challenge lead experts. Our fellows spend 18 months with us discerning and responding to problems faced in their organizations. Our work together centers the work of innovation through utilizing tech tools to enhance organizational commitments to connection and community. We launched the Fellowship last fall. It’s been such a success that folks who are not our fellows are still interested in getting involved with our work. At present we are designing new opportunities for community members who are not fellows to be inspired, empowered and informed about our work in a way that most directly benefits them. I’m excited about the growing community of faith-based innovators that this work will help connect.
What can we find you doing when you’re not working?
The other hat I wear in the world is that of a pastor. So if you don’t find me at TIDEL you’ll likely find me at the church. Hobbies wise, I love live sports & live music.
What is piquing your curiosity these days?
I’m really fascinated by this culture of popular education taking root in spaces of digital community. People are taking it upon themselves to educate each other and fill in the blanks that powers that be have left out. I’m watching Gen Z take ownership of knowledge production & dissemination. They’re committed to no one being left behind. It makes me curious about what’s possible when folks band together towards a collective future of transparency. I love that digital platforms are fueling and democratizing these possibilities.
What is something you’d like help on?
Finding communities of leaders in faith-based sectors who believe in the power of leveraging technology and innovation for social good. I’ve brought some folks together but I know I’m only scratching the surface!
What is something you can offer others in the innoFaith network?
I would be happy to offer a space for broader conversation. I believe in the power of curating space. Amazing things happen when folks have the opportunity to sit down together.
You can find Gabby at www.gabbycudjoewilkes.com or via LinkedIn, Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Meet an innoFaither is our series to introduce the inspiring optimists in the innoFaith world and what they’re working on and thinking about. We hope it helps you find and engage with each other across the network to advance faith-rooted social innovation and interfaith collaboration for social impact. Or just meet some cool people. Find the full series at www.innofaith.org/meet-an-innofaither.
Photo Credit: Moriah Felder