Global Kids Island Newsletter - November 2007

[Rafi Santo]

Hi everyone!

Each month, Global Kids publishes a newsletter focused on our educational programming in Second Life's teen grid.  To provide a window into this oft mysterious "Teen Grid", we like to send the newsletter to any who might be interested.  Some highlights pertinent to you all this month:

- Get your teens involved in social entrepreneurship, no matter where they are

- Virtually attend the MacArthur panel on Teens and Virtual Worlds on 11/14 at USC's Annenberg Island

- GK has job positions open

If you have any questions, feel free to email me off list or IM me (Bhikku Beeks) in the main grid.

Happy Mondays to all,

Rafi

__________________________________________________

Rafi Santo
Virtual Community Manager
Online Leadership Program
Global Kids
http://www.globalkids.org/olp

http://olp.globalkids.org

=== Global Kids Newsletter ===
November, 2007

Welcome to the monthly Global Kids newsletter!  This is your chance to find out what's happening on the GK Islands and ways you can get involved!  Please take a copy and pass it to your friends. (IM Rafi GKid in the Teen Grid or Bhikku Beeks in the Main Grid if you have any questions).

+++++UPCOMING EVENTS+++++

Quick Schedule!

- Ongoing D.I.D.I. Initiative Workshops

11/10 - The Teen Grid: Evolving or Devolving? Led by teen intern Alex Harbinger

11/14 - "What are kids learning in Virtual Worlds" video stream and launch of build "Witnessing History"

11/16 - Convention on the Rights of the Child 18th Birthday all-day event!

11/17 - Helping the Developing World. Led by teen intern Pdiddy Doucherty

11/19 & 11/26 - Fireside Workshops!  Run by Rafi Gkid and Mercury Metropolitan

11/28 - GK Staff Meet 'n Greet

++ New Round of D.I.D.I. Initiative Workshops Posted! ++

Have youth that are seriously dynamic, entrepreneurial and care abouth their communities?  Interested in getting them funded with up to $1000 USD to start your own community changing social venture?  Have them come to a D.I.D.I. workshop to learn more! IM Coreina Grace in the main grid for info on how to get your teens involved!

Learn more here:

http://tinyurl.com/32ffqc

++"What are kids learning in Virtual Worlds?" and Launch of "Witnessing History" ++

On the afternoon of November 14th from 6-8 PM PDT, join us on GK Serious Gaming for a live video stream of Barry Gkid speaking from LA about Teen Second Life and education.  We'll also be having the first public viewing of the incredible build "Witnessing History: The Night of Broken Glass" that evening, a final project from our collaboration with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.  IM Rafi Gkid or Dion Zabelin for more details.

This event will be streamed into the main grid on USC's Annenberg Island at the Ampitheatre:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Annenberg%20Island/65/131/31

Read about the LA Panel here:

http://tinyurl.com/36yhac

++ Convention on the Rights of the Child Machinima Screening in honor of the CRC's Birthday! ++

Come join us for a day of celebration on children's rights!  On Friday November 16th, 2007, we will be showing machinimas made by teens in the CRC Machinima Summer Camp throughout the day, in the GK Machinima Theater on GK Machinima Island.

FOR ONE DAY ONLY, Sign the birthday card, enjoy a piece of cake, and watch real-life 1-minute videos made by teens from all over the world and teens in SL in efforts to raise awareness on children's rights. Come grab a shirt, wear a wristband, and leave a little footprint on the card for memory's sake.

Contact Tabitha Gkid if you have any questions and want to participate.  See you there on Friday Nov. 16th!

++ Fireside Workshops continue! ++

Our next Fireside workshop, led by Rafi Gkid, is happening on November 19th, and will be a surprise topic!  The second Fireside workshop of the month will be led by Mercury Metropolitan on Monday the 26th. 

++ GK staff meet 'n greet on November 28th @ 12:30 pm PDT! ++

Global Kids online staff has grown a lot in the past couple of months, so we're going to hold a meet 'n greet dance party at the end of November where you can come and meet everyone.  Jay, Kathy, Amira and Joyce will be the new faces in the house!

++ Intern Event - The Teen Grid - Evolving, or Devolving? What we can do to help. ++
Saturday, November 10th, Noon PST
Led by Alex Harbinger

The Teen Grid is a fragile place with a small and very close community - even a minor detail can have a devastating, or enlightening result for the Grid. We will be discussing the Grid's status, and how we can help our 'environment', those around us, and ourselves. Join us at Global Kids (Island) on Saturday, November 10th, at Noon (SL Time)!

++ Intern Workshop: Helping the Developing World ++

Join GK Intern Pdiddy Doucherty for a workshop on one of the biggest problems in the world, poverty, and learn what's really happening in the developing world.  The event will be held on GK Island.  IM Pdiddy Doucherty for more details!

+++++RECENT EVENTS+++++

++ The D.I.D.I Initiative Island Opening & Kick Off Party ++

The D.I.D.I. Initiative is a new GK project that supports teen grid residents with seed funding to start their own community changing social ventures. Read about the kick-off party here:

http://tinyurl.com/2mctuz

++ GK Fireside Workshops off to a great start! ++

This past month we had two great Fireside Workshops on global issues led by Rafi Gkid and Mercury Metropolitan. Issues addressed this month were economic globalization and media piracy, led by Rafi and Mercury respectively. 

Dion's Fireside workshop poster:

http://tinyurl.com/376ecv

Read about the Race to the Bottom workshop on Globalization here:
http://tinyurl.com/ysszhl

And about Mercury's Media Piracy workshop here:

http://tinyurl.com/32cv2n

++ GK Intern Event - Disabilities in TSL Debate and Discussion ++

Led by Lucky Figtree, this fantastic event explored issues of disability, technology and virtual reality.  Go Lucky! Read her post about it here:

http://tinyurl.com/3365yv

++ GK Intern Event - Screening of "A Child's War" and live stream of Ishmael Beah ++
Held on Eye4You Alliance and MCed by Nafiza Gkid, this evening dedicated to exploring the issue of child soldiers featured a screening of the GK machinima on the topic and a special live stream of former child soldier Ishmael Beah.  Read Nafiza's thoughts on it here:

http://tinyurl.com/27esty

++ GK Intern Event - U.S. Immigration and Border Issues ++

Led by Mat Brocco, this event explored the issue of immigration through sharing and reflection on real stories of both success and challenges experienced by immigrants to the United States from Mexico, as well as by participant debate.  Go Mat! 

++ Virtual Video Project Afterschool Program Starting! ++

On November 1st, the 07-08 year of the Virtual Video Project began.  If you're interested in helping out in-world to produce high quality machinima about global issues, IM Tabitha GKid and join the "GK Machinima" group.

+++++ANNOUNCEMENTS+++++

++ GK Staff Present at MIT about TSL and Education ++

Rafi Santo (aka Rafi Gkid) and Amira Fouad (aka Amira Gkid) presented at a media literacy conference held at MIT on October 27th.  They talked about 21st skills, and featured lots of TSL residents during their talk.  Check out the full video of the presentation here:

http://tinyurl.com/2ts22

++ New Positions Open at GK! ++

Global Kids' Online Leadership Program is growing!  We're looking for people that specialize in online social networks, running large projects in Second Life, and more!  Send to anyone you know whom might be interested:

http://tinyurl.com/2dfrrd

++ Vote for Ayiti!! ++

Ayiti (www.thecostoflife.org), GK's award-winning game about poverty in Haiti, was nominated to become one of the top games this year to educate about health issues!  Vote now to help Ayiti win here:

http://tinyurl.com/2okmne

++ CRC Machinima Clips on UNICEF Web Site ++

All ten one-minute machinima's created this past summer by teens in GK's CRC Machinima Camp are up on UNICEF's Convention on the Rights of the Child web site.  Check them out here:

http://tinyurl.com/374my4

+++++GK IN THE MEDIA+++++

++ Ishmael Beah TSL Live Stream Event Picked Up in Charlotte Paper ++
The Charlotte Observer wrote about Ishmael Beah's lecture in the city's library, and gave a shout out to the TSL residents listening over the live stream.  Read about it here:

http://tinyurl.com/2n9kcf

________________________________________________________________________________

To keep up-to-date on Global Kids, join our group "Global Kids" for free. You can also learn more at our blog, http://www.holymeatballs.org, subscribe to our Twitter feed at www.Twitter.com/Holymeatballs or IM Bhikku Beeks in the Main Grid.  If you would like to sign up to receive the newsletter directly by email, go to http://groups.google.com/group/GKVirtualWorldUpdate