Written by: Glitteractica_Cookie
Second Life Transgender Day of Remembrance
The Transgender Day of Remembrance began nine years ago as a way to honor victims of transgender hate crimes and raise public awareness about such violence. Yesterday was the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in Second Life. Elysium Gardens, along with the Transgender Resource Center hosted the first Second Life service in memory of victims of violence against transgendered people. The event lasted all day and provided Second Life avatars worldwide a space to honor and remember victims, such as Gwen Arajuo.
The service included many Second Life residents and supporters sharing memories and their personal stories and experiences of those who were victims of suicide or transgender hate crimes. At a candlelight evening ceremony, Jani Myriam of the Transgender Resource Center gave a touching remembrance address.
You can find out more about the Transgender Day of Remembrance by visiting: http://www.rememberingourdead.org/day/.
Written by: penguin kuhn
Community Profile: Kali Idziak Community Voice Mail
What is your name?
Kali Idziak/SL
Jessica Dally/RL
I represent Community Voice Mail and I am staff member. My job is Help Desk Technician
http://www.cvm.org
Why did you decide to come into Second Life?
I had been in SL just on my own for about 9 months before we came in here. We learned that SL was having more and more opportunity for non profits and then the MacArthur foundation event passed thru my ED’s hands and, knowing I’d been in here, we began to check things out for our organization
How will your nonprofit use second life?
Well… our main focus for SL is using it as a social networking tool for our nonprofit. Our nonprofit is based on a federation model, so we partner with other organizations all over the us, and hopefully the world to provide voicemail.
We’re hoping to expand our contacts with other non profits thru our use of SL and also simply to get the word out about what we do to anyone who will listen. So many folks forget that it’s quite hard, if not impossible, to get a job, an apartment, whatever, without a phone number… easily overlooked and
yet so vital. That would be our primary objective here… but we’re also trying to stay open to other possibilities as we all learn what can be done in SL
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How will you realize your objective? What is your strategy? what are some nuts and bolts things you plan to do in here?
Our first real project was simply to set up the office!Now that we’re done with that there’s a bit of a lull in our involvement here as we have our RL convention this next week. From there we’re hoping to do many of the things the other non profits are doing… hold events to educate people, etc.. but mainly just being in here and talking to the other non profits has done quite a bit to get the word out to potential partners
Does your ED allow you to spend work time here?
She’s great about that but really it’s something that I can do while working hours.
What is your advice for other nonprofits about doing a project or having a presence in here?
My biggest piece of advice is to come in and just play for a bit (if you can). I can’t tell you how much my experience of “playing” has helped me with the non profit part… knowing how to interact in sl, how to do some very basic building and having some amazing friends that were able to help me immensely with set up and scripting all of these things I got from being in here a
bit, seeing how things work, before just trying to jump in… I guess, in the corporate world, it’d be called “knowing your market” and in this case knowing your reality too… what can and can’t be done… what works and what doesn’t.
Written by: kanter
Top 10 Reasons Why Second Life is Worthwhile for Nonprofits
This recent Second Life scandal has some nonprofit board members concerned about the value for nonprofits using Second Life. Much like the Web, Second Life also has some seedy people out there. But as many nonprofits can attest, the ever-growing community of amazing avatars working for good far outweighs the few “bad apples” or rather “bad avatars.”
Here’s a list of 10 reasons why Second Life is worthwhile for your nonprofit:
1. Over 2 million people use Second Life. That’s a large community of people–and potential folks that your organization can reach.
2. Second Life offers new ways to collaborate and get work done. Through in-world meetings, people from disparate parts of the globe can chat (by text and voice), share documents and information, and work together on virtual projects.
3. It’s a carbon-friendly way to connect with people worldwide. Imagine the carbon (and cost savings) of participating in a global conference from the privacy of your own computer. OneClimate‘s OneWorld Island is offering just that with their Virtual Bali conference this fall, offering an alternative for people to participate virtually in the annual UN conference without the carbon cost of flying.
4. Low cost. The basic Second Life account is free, though there are additional costs for purchasing land. The Nonprofit Commons virtual space is donated land that allows nonprofits to set up virtual shop at no cost to the organization.
5. It gives your organization the opportunity to be thought leaders and innovators in your field of expertise. For example, Global Kids has run a series of virtual workshops on global issues and leadership to teens and are developing best practices for bringing this type of education into Second Life.
6. Second Life can provide a virtual sandbox for NPOs to experiment with different ways of building awareness and support for their cause. For Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York, developing a Second Life presence was a pilot project as a new program to contribute to their mission. Just as you have to try out a new fundraising or membership strategy, organizations can experiment with Second Life as another approach for meeting its goals.
7. Second Life awareness often translates into real-world donations. Consider the case of the Digital Campfires Foundation. Through connecting with others in Second Life, Digital Campfires received nearly a semi truck load of real-world donated monitors and computers.
8. Virtual worlds offer a level of interactivity that the Web can’t match. Take the Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) developed the Gone Gitmo project. This Second Life representation of Guantanamo Bay gives avatars a temporary simulated experience of what it’s like to be imprisoned in Guatanamo Bay and to teach about issues of habeas corpus.
9. Second Life fosters innovation and creativity. Nonprofits are continually coming up with new ways to gain awareness and touch people. Whether that’s through in-world concerts, virtual political debates or art exhibits, Second Life offers endless possibilities for creatively combining visual, text, and audio technologies.
10. Second Life is continually evolving and becoming increasingly sophisticated as technologies are developed. The possibilities for technical and social innovations in virtual worlds abound!
Written by: penguin kuhn
Oleander Health Fair raises dollars and awareness
This past Wed. Nov. 7th, Oleander Island was host to the Womens’ Health Fair/Expo. This event sought to educate women on the health issues that concern them in their everyday lives, share ideas, and talk to professionals in the field. In addition, the health fair helped raise linden dollars for the organization, Drive By Agony/Life Learning programs, a non-profit organization that helps victims of crime.
The event featured a variety of speakers involved in health issues. In-between speakers, participants could check out the dance floor, refreshments from the bar and buffet table, and visit the variety of projects on display.
Highlights from the speakers included:
PCOSGurl Infinity of Project PCOS on the importance of education and awareness about PCOS, a hidden syndrome that many women have.
Coughran Mayo of Preferred Family Healthcare speaking on issues dealing with body and mind.
MB Chevalier of the University of Plymouth discussing concerns surrounding Sexual health education
Carmen Gray of Drive By Agony/Life learning programs speaking about the thousands of youth victims in America and why the organization made the decision to come to Second Life.
Jacmacaire Humby of Humanbe highlighting his organization’s peace project and a need to create more peace in the world.
This Penguin stopped by and said a few words about the Nonprofit Commons, and was very impressed by the event and speakers.
Written by: penguin kuhn
What are Kids learning in Virtual Worlds?
Is your nonprofit considering doing an educational program in Virtual Worlds? Then you won’t want to miss this event.
MacArthur Foundation and Common Sense Media Forum in association with USC Center on Public Diplomacy & Global Kids, What are kids learning in Virtual Worlds? The Wonders and the Worries today, Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 6:00pm PST. This event will be streamed into Second Life at the USC Annenberg Islands and on the teen grid. There will be a separate discussion for the second life audience concluding the discussion.
This event is specifically being held to create a balanced conversation between parents, educators, researchers and media. People with an interest in child development, virtual worlds, and the effect media is having on children, will benefit from the information provided in the panel discussion.
You may have heard of Club Penguin, Whyville, The Sims, and Second Life. But, what do they mean for kids? Hear from a panel of experts as they discuss:
* What are kids really doing in virtual worlds?
* How are they learning?
* What does this mean for parents and educators?
Speakers at the event include Anastasia Goodstein, author of Totally Wired, Doug Thomas, the founding editor of an interactive media journal, Yasmin B. Kafai, an associate professor of education at UCLA and Barry Joseph, director of an online leadership program. The panel will be moderated by Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media.
Written by: kanter
Need to Help Some Newbies Get Started in Second Life?
Global Kids Open House and Non-profit Career Fair tomorrow in SL
My friends at Global Kids, a New York City based youth empowerment non-profit organization, will be holding an open house and non-profit career fair tomorrow (November 9) within Second Life. This is part of their job search to fill a number of positions within their Online Leadership Program (OLP). Come by from 1-2PM PST to the Global Kids offices on the main grid at the NMC campus sim Teaching (teleport SLURL.) OLP Director Barry Joseph (pictured here) will be speaking on Global Kids programs and Teen Second Life.
These are really cool jobs with a great organization that is on the cutting-edge of virtual technology and education. Additional information about available positions can be found at http://globalkids.org/?id=73. The application deadline is November 15, so get that resume polished!
Written by: rikomatic
Women’s Health Fair on Oleander Island today in SL
Today at Oleander Island (click here to teleport), come to the Second Life Women’s Health Fair, where medical professionals will speak on important health issues affecting women including cancer, heart ailments, and PCOS — a hidden womens health problem. There will also be a silent auction, with proceeds going to the organization Drive By Agony/Life Learning programs, which assists victims of crime, teaches young people violence prevention methods for everyday life. From 8 am – 1 pm PST.
Written by: rikomatic
SLNN Profiles the American Cancer Society
The SLNN has a nice write-up about the American Cancer Society’s activities in Second Life beyond the Relay for Life. It’s a good summary of how an effective real world non-profit is learning now to leverage Second Life’s strengths to reach their target audience and promote their cause. RC Moss of the ACS noted that, “Anyone who will be a success in SL has to understand SL the culture, the technology. Know what you as an NGO want to get out of your SL experience.” Moss explained, “I always look to our RL success and imagine new ways to transfer programs and mission delivery into SL.”
Written by: rikomatic