[conf] Virtual World Residents to Gather in Chicago
VIRTUAL WORLD RESIDENTS TO GATHER IN CHICAGO; MACARTHUR FOUNDATION TO FUND FIRST-EVER NON-PROFIT THREAD
CHICAGO, IL (August 8, 2007) – The Second Life Community Convention, which is expected to draw hundreds of virtual world “residents” from around the globe to Chicago on August 24-26, will feature a series of events examining the increasing presence of social justice organizations in virtual worlds. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which recently announced a year-long exploration of virtual worlds, is supporting these events at the convention in order to spark discussion about the use of virtual worlds for the public good.
Second Life is one of several “virtual worlds” that offers a three-dimensional environment where online participants from around the globe are represented by avatars in social and workplace interactions that mimic and reinvent the physical world. Participation in virtual worlds has been growing rapidly. Second Life now has millions of users and a growing non-profit community.
“Virtual worlds are already a burgeoning frontier for business and entertainment, but the public sector has been slow to get involved,” said MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton. “From MacArthur’s recent experience, it is clear that residents of virtual worlds are hungry for ‘in-world’ opportunities to engage on serious social issues and to act on their philanthropic impulses.”
MacArthur is making grants to Global Kids and Common Sense Media to weave a non-profit thread into the four main tracks of the conference: business, education, social and machinima (digital animation created in gaming environments). Each track will feature a panel focusing on how non-profit organizations are utilizing virtual worlds to extend their mission and reach. These special panels include –
• Education keynote speaker Connie Yowell, Director of Education at the MacArthur Foundation, will address the importance of virtual worlds for informal learning and non-profits. (10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 25)
• A teen-led mini-machinima festival will feature teens from two non-profit programs showcasing their work using Second Life to make animated movies about social and global issues. (1:30 p.m., Saturday, August 25)
• A panel will discuss best practices for bringing non-profits into Second Life, and will include such participants as the Alliance Library System, TechSoup.org and representatives from Linden Lab. (10:00 a.m., Sunday, August 26)
• Philanthropy funders, including foundations, corporations, and government organizations that are supporting work in virtual worlds, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Learn and Serve America, will discuss the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds. (2:30 p.m., Sunday, August 26)
• “An Educational Non-profit's History of the Teen Grid: Global Kids’ Adventure in Best Practices” will explore educational activities in the Teen Grid of Second Life. (3:30 p.m., Saturday, August 25)
For those unable to attend in person, Global Kids will simulcast portions of the convention live in Second Life, and will summarize findings from the convention in two papers to be published this fall. The papers will analyze the conference’s education and non-profit tracks and recommend how new organizations can get involved.
###
About the Second Life Community Convention (SLCC)
Since its inception, the SLCC has been a volunteer-run event bringing people together in the physical world to celebrate the 3D platform of Second Life. The third annual SLCC will be held August 24-26, 2007 at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago. More information is available at www.slcc2007.wordpress.com.
About Global Kids
Founded in 1989, Global Kids' mission is to transform urban youth into successful students and global and community leaders by engaging them in socially dynamic, content-rich learning experiences. Through its leadership development and academic enrichment programs, Global Kids educates youth about critical international and domestic issues and promotes their engagement in civic life and the democratic process. More information is available at www.globalkids.org.
About the MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grant making institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. MacArthur’s $50 million digital media and learning initiative aims to help determine how digital technologies are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life. More information is available at www.macfound.org or www.digitallearning.macfound.org.
Media contacts
MacArthur Foundation – Jen Humke, jhumke@macfound.org, (312) 726-8000
SLCC – Randal Moss, Randal.Moss@cancer.org, 404-329-7573
Global Kids – Jonah Kokodyniak, jonah@globalkids.org, (212) 226-2116
