For the past four weeks, representatives of five nonprofits supported by the MacArthur Foundation have been going through the "Virtual World Capacity Building Program" an intensive training on nonprofit applications of virtual worlds. These organizations have explored several major virtual platforms, examined some of the leading examples of nonprofit actions in the metaverse, and thought about how they might best use these tools to further their respective missions.
This Thursday, August 27, four groups will be presenting on MacArthur Island in Second Life their initial impressions of virtual worlds, outstanding questions, and possible next steps. It's a very diverse group of nonprofits, including:
- The Adler Planetarium of Chicago
- Archi-treasures
- The National Writing Project
- and the Vera Institute of Justice
Come hear what they have to say on Thursday, from 12-1:30pm PST on MacArthur Island in Second Life (teleport link). Afterwards, there will be an open discussion about the applications of virtual worlds for various public good purposes. And we'll close the event with a casual mixer / dance party!
The Virtual World Capacity Building Program is a project of Global Kids, supported by a generous grant from the Catherine T. and John D. MacArthur Foundation.
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. Global Kids' Online Leadership Program exposes our youth to global issues through digital filmmaking, serious video game creation, and virtual events and dialogues. We provide professional services for a range of institutions, including the MacArthur Foundation, UNICEF, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Youth Venture, and the International Criminal Court. Find more information on the Global Kids’ website.