I caught just the tail end of a mixed-reality panel discussion today on "From Global to Local: Virtual Worlds, Immigration, and Linguistic Diaspora," taking place both at USC Annenberg Island in Second Life (teleport SLURL) and the Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Santa Fe, in Mexico City. The panel was to discuss how "the interdependence of…
Category: Civil Society
“Doonesbury” strip features philanthropic use of Second Life!
I got a tip from a comment on New World Notes by Neptune Rebel that the recent Sunday "Doonesbury" comic strip featured a reference to Second Life. A character talks about how he has been fundraising for a charity using his "private foundation on Second Life," his avatar raising "nearly $600." Great to see some…
Looking for Non-profit “Best Practices” in Second Life
The awesome youth technology group Global Kids has asked me to prepare a report on "best practices" for non-profits in Second Life that will be submitted to a major foundation. I know many groups from around the world are already doing great work in SL and have learned some valuable lessons that others could benefit…
Center for disabled virtual worlders and gamers opening September 9 in Second Life
I just saw this press release about a new Accessibility Center opening in Second Life on a couple of blogs and thought I should check it out. On September 9, at 4PM PST, the iVinnie Accessibility Center will officially open on HealthInfo Island (Teleport SLURL). The Accessibility Center provides "continuing education and awareness about disabilities…
Mixed-reality panel in Mexico City on “Virtual Worlds, Immigration and Linguistic Diaspora” September 10
On Monday, September 10, at 10:15AM PST, there will be a mixed-reality panel discussion on "From Global to Local: Virtual Worlds, Immigration, and Linguistic Diaspora," taking place both at USC Annenberg Island in Second Life (teleport SLURL) and the Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Santa Fe, in Mexico City. The panel will explore how "the interdependence of…
Lunch with Ruby Glitter in Chinatown
I just had a lovely lunch with Ms. Ruby Glitter today in Chinatown. She was in town for some meetings at the headquarters of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, where she works as co-coordinator of communications. I know Ruby through her other gig as coordinator of the progressive activist group RootsCamp in Second Life. It’s always…
Cyrus Huffines leading online community program at Interfaith Youth Core
Congrats to my friend Cyrus Huffines (RL: Bryan Campen) for getting recently hired as Online Community Coordinator for the Interfaith Youth Core. About the Core: There are millions of religious young people in the world interacting with greater frequency. That interaction tends either toward conflict or cooperation. Where so many of these interactions tend towards…
Anshe Chung donates second sim to Non-profit Commons
Frank Foley of TechSoup just announced that SL entrepreneur Anshe Chung has agreed to donate a second sim to the Non-profit Commons. We’ve been bursting at the seams and have more requests for office spaces than we can accommodate, so this is welcome news. I was in on some of the side conversations on this…
SL designers sought for “Pink for Life” Breast Cancer benefit
I just got this call for contributions for a mixed reality Second Life / real life benefit for cancer research called "Pink for Life." The European cancer research Gustave Roussy Institute is throwing a fashion exhibit and auction on the Champs Elysee in Paris from October 9-10 to raise funds and awareness towards breast cancer…
The Media Research Hub: cutting edge tools for media justice, scholarship and policy
My program on Media and Democracy at the Social Science Research Council has publicly launched the Media Research Hub, a new online resource for researchers, advocates, practitioners, and policymakers working for a more democratic and participatory public sphere. Through the Hub, activists and researchers can find out about funding opportunities for research work, get access…