A community-led project, providing space to meet and network, all to create a cooperative learning environment and foster outreach, education, fundraising, all in a virtual environment.
On Monday, November 17, from 3-5PM PST, come to the first virtual conference sponsored by RezEd.org, the social network for virtual world educators, taking place in the Justice Center (click here to teleport). The event will feature a panel discussion of leading educators and researchers working in virtual world education, a “birds of a feather” breakout session, and social mixer for letting our virtual hair down!
Head to RezEd.org for updates and more info!
Written by: rikomatic
Can virtual art stimulate real-world political action? Find out on Friday, October 24, as digital media artists Peggy Weil (Ping Rau in SL) and Nonny de la Peña (Nonny Writer) discuss how they are using 3D artwork as a form of political expression and civic engagement. At the Justice Center (click here to teleport ) from 10-11am PST on October 24.
Peggy and Nonny have been involved in a number of ground-breaking digital media projects that explore the intersections of art and politics, from “The Redistricting Game” that Peggy designed to “Unconstitutional” a documentary of civil liberties in America post 9/11 produced by Nonny. They will talk about their latest explorations of political artwork in SL, from the “Gone Gitmo” project to the “Mauerkrankheit/Wallsickness” installation that was an Annenberg Public Good Merit Award winner. Then we will teleport over to their exhibits to get a guided tour from them
Written by: rikomatic
I’m excited to announce that Global Kids is starting up again its youth machinima initiative called the "Virtual Video Project." If you know of a teenager in the New York area who is interested in global issues, politics, digital media and having fun, then send them our way! Applications are due by October 17.
Students get training in how to use Second Life as a filmmaking platform, decide among themselves a particular social issue they would like to make a machinima about, and then do all of the work to create the film. Our past machinima have won a number of awards and been featured at various film festivals and conferences around the world.
The program runs from October 30 until late June, so it’s a big commitment. The sessions are facilitated by my fabulous colleagues Tabitha and Shawna.
For more information or to receive the application contact shawna@globalkids.org or call 212-226-0130 ext. 143.
Written by: rikomatic
Here’s another great machinima news report from my buddy Draxtor Dupres. This time he covers the USC Network Culture Project’s Public Good Challenge in Second Life. It’s a nice frame for looking at the potential of virtual worlds for more than just commerce and entertainment.
I was honored to serve as one of the selection panel members for the Public Good Challenge. You can even see a bit of my avatar sitting besides my hero Howard Rheingold.
Good stuff, Drax!
Written by: rikomatic
Beginning this Fall, Global Kids is excited to announce opportunities for a group of young people to receive $1000 USD in seed funding and social entrepreneurial training through the “Dream It. Do It.” Initiative in Second Life.
The D.I.D.I. Initiative is an exciting partnership between Global Kids and Ashoka’s Youth Venture. Through January of 2009, the D.I.D.I. Initiative is supporting up to 40 teams of young people with up to $1000 USD and tools and training to launch ventures that benefit their communities, either within or outside the virtual world of Second Life.
Overview:
D.I.D.I. empowers young people to identify social and health issues in their communities and to create and lead their own social ventures to address these issues. A venture can be a club, organization, business, or program that is ongoing and benefits one’s community in some way. With the D.I.D.I. Initiative’s support, each team of young people develops an action plan to design and launch their own social entrepreneurial projects. When the teams are ready to launch, the Initiative offers:
For more information, we invite you and your students to stop by one of our info sessions to be held at the Global Kids HQ in Second Life at the following times this week:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Teaching/222/165/24
Should you have any questions, please feel free to email Amira at amira@globalkids.org
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Ashoka’s Youth Venture leads an international community of young people who are powerful now, changemakers now. Youth Venture inspires and invests in teams of young people to create and launch their own sustainable, community-benefiting Ventures and then connects them into a global movement of young changemakers who are together redefining the youth years as a time of leadership and positive social change. This is the foundation of an Everyone a Changemaker™ world – the key factor for success in every part of society.
Global Kids, a non-profit organization based in New York City, is dedicated to developing youth to become global citizens and community leaders. In 2006, Global Kids became the first nonprofit to develop a dedicated space for conducting programming in the virtual world of Teen Second Life (TSL). Within TSL, the organization has established the D.I.D.I. Initiative Island, which hosts interactive, experiential programs for teens from around the world.
Written by: rikomatic
For those that weren’t able to be there, here’s a quick rundown of what I spoke about at the Non-profit Commons mini-track at the Second Life Community Convention this past weekend in Tampa, Florida. While this year’s non-profit track had less folks participating than last year, we had some great exchanges with non-profit innovators like Master Quatro, Sheva Nerad, folks from the American Library Association, USC’s Network Culture Project, Native Lands, and several other groups in attendance physically or via SL.
Thanks to Coughran Mayo for inviting me to speak and doing an admirable job moderating the entire mini-track. And shout-outs to Rhiannon Chatnoir, In Kenzo and Amulius Lioncourt for bootlegging an audio stream in the Plush Nonprofit Commons in record time. And I can’t forget my colleague Meghan Deana (Coreina Grace in SL) for stepping in at the 11th hour to help me present and facilitate the session.
[Note this is cross-posted from my blog rikomatic.com]
My talk notes follow…
Beyond Best Practices: Taking Non-profits to the Next Level in Second Life
Almost exactly a year ago, based on findings from SLCC 07 in Chicago, I wrote a little report on "Best Practices for Nonprofits in Second Life," which you may have read. At last year’s SLCC non-profit panel people were presenting more questions than answers. Lots of presenters were announcing projects they were just in the process of launching, including the MacArthur Foundation, USC’s Network Culture Project, and Youth Ventures.
This year, the message I have for you is: congratulations! We have firmly made the case for the viability of using Second Life for non-profit work. It is no longer a question of if but how. This year we can celebrate real achievements:
Here’s some other cool stuff that I’ve run into in my wanderings in Second Life:
New Tech relevant to Nonprofits:
What hasn’t happened:
Written by: rikomatic
On August 13, at 5PM PST, come to the International Justice Center to catch real world / virtual DJ Doubledown Tandino spinning an eclectic mix of global grooves for your dancing pleasure. During the dance, we’ll also be asking for donations to aid victims of human rights abuses in Darfur, the Congo, Uganda, and Central African Republic. Afterwards, Mr. John Washburn, convenor of the American NGO Coalition on the International Criminal Court, will talk about why the next US President should support the International Criminal Court. Come dance, support human rights, and learn about the ICC.
Donations received will be forward to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the ICC Victims Trust Fund.
Click here to RSVP.
Written by: rikomatic
On Monday, July 21, at 12PM SLT, the GK International Justice Center will be streaming a conversation on the situation in Darfur with Dr. Francis Deng, the UN Secretary Generals’ Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide. Dr. Deng is a Sudanese national and has served as a human rights officer at the United Nations since the 1960s as well as his own country as Minister of Foreign Affairs and ambassador to several countries.
After Dr. Deng’s short speech, Global Kids will facilitate a Q&A with a group of Global Kids teens present with the advisor, teens on the teen grid, and adults in the Justice Center.
Please go here to RSVP.<!–break–>
Written by: rikomatic
We just announced in-world the five finalists in the USC Network Culture Project’s "Second Life and Public Good Community Challenge". They are:
Congrats to all the finalists, and all those that participated!
It was enormously difficult picking the best among a lot of very worthy proposals. I hope that some of the other runners-up are able to find other support to move forward with their initiatives.
For the five finalists, it goes to the larger SL community to help pick the three winners, each of which will receive L$300,000 to develop their project. Click the links to read about each proposal, and then head to this survey to pick your favorites. The winners will be announced on July 1.
Head to the Network Culture Project website for more info.
Cross posted from rikomatic.com
Written by: rikomatic
Gene Koo of the Berkman Center at Harvard wanted me to pass around these job notices for an innovative project called "Hub2":
"Hub2 seeks to enable local neighborhoods to participate more meaningfully in the design and development of their own public spaces. Residents engage in a process that employs 3D tools and problem-solving techniques to articulate a common vision reflecting the participants’ values. Over the next 3 months, Hub2 will work with Allston residents and stakeholders, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, and Harvard’s Allston Development Group to design Library Park. Hub2 seeks enthusiastic and community-minded staff to pioneer this cutting-edge program. "
Hub2 is looking for a "Youth Coordinator" and "Project Coordinator." Check the two job descriptions for more info or visit http://hub2.org/.
Written by: rikomatic