Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and Artist Michael Wright will head to Washington D.C. and participate in the inaugural White House Maker Faire today (6/18). According to MLive, the event will showcase makers who are people who like to make stuff

Wright tells MLive that the event is "mostly a demonstration, showing off things you're working on, networking and finding opportunities for collaboration." He won't have a booth or give demonstrations, but was among those invited to attend to network, learn and listen to the president speak. Wright was asked because of the work he is doing with elementary school kids in Flint. He founded the Flint Holmes DIY club. Wright also has an 11-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter and thinks it's important to show kids how to make things.

Walling will be there in a different capacity then Wright. He chairs the Manufacturing Alliance of Communities, a national organization that pushes for more resources and policy changes for manufacturing. Walling says they "are always advocating for policy change, so we have a meeting with senior White House officials" and the "maker movement is about creating jobs and creating new products and jobs."