Global Kids' Digital Media Initiative

Due to the unique conditions pertaining to adults in TSL, a select number of journalists will be brought into Teen Second Life and experience first-hand the announcement ceremony of the first round of health-related social venture teams, participate in the ribbon cutting for the new Science Education island, learn about the introduction of MacArthur Foundation program areas into TSL, and meet with teens involved in the projects from around the world.

Reporters in the New York area will be able to visit the Global Kids office directly to receive hands-on Second Life training, meet Global Kids youth leaders in person, and/or watch the event projected on a screen.

“We are seeing an explosion of teen-oriented virtual worlds driven largely by commercial and marketing interests. Parental concern about excessive time spent in these environments is on the rise,” said Barry Joseph, director of Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program, “However, virtual worlds can provide important opportunities for an assortment of unintended learning, from identity formation, to social networking and entrepreneurial skills, to financial literacy. Global Kids has responded by developing programs that formalize this informal learning to support youth leadership development around social and global issues.”

Reporters taking advantage of the Second Life tour through Global Kids will be able to experience:

1) Science Through Second Life - initiates the first New York City high school class to work completely in Second Life. Freshman experiencing this interdisciplinary life and physical science curriculum will go online, every day, to learn about science from a global perspective through the unique affordances of a virtual world.

2) Dream it. Do it. Initiative ( D.I.D.I.) - works with groups of teens in Second Life to mentor them to become young social entrepreneurs. The groups are provided with seed funding of up to $1,000 to implement sustainable projects that will bring positive changes to their communities’ health.

“One of the first ventures is called Beat Bullying,” says Adam Aberman, Director of Global Online Strategy of Youth Venture, GK’s project partner. Second Life is allowing these teens from the UK and the US to team up to combat bullying both in their separate home communities and their shared one online.

3) Philanthropy in Virtual Worlds - An extension of Global Kids participation in the MacArthur Foundation’s year exploring the role of philanthropy in virtual worlds teaches youth about the public good, philanthropy and issues such as conservation, sustainable development, human rights and international justice. GK will host thematically-focused educational competitions, festivals, live events and more that will engage youth in substantive learning and social actions.

A press packet is available upon request.

About Global Kids, Inc. (www.globalkids.org)
Launched in 1989 and independent since 1993, Global Kids' mission is to educate and inspire urban youth to become 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. Through professional development initiatives, Global Kids provides educators with strategies for integrating experiential learning methods and international issues into urban classrooms. Over 85% of the high school seniors who participate in GK's leadership program graduate and attend college.

About the Global Kids Online Leadership Program (OLP)
Global Kids, Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in using digital media to promote global awareness and youth civic engagement. Global Kids’ Online Leadership Program (OLP) integrates a youth development approach and international and public policy issues into youth media programs that build digital literacy, foster substantive online dialogues, develop resources for educators, and promote civic participation. Currently, the OLP is accomplishing its goals through initiatives within four broader areas: the development of socially -conscious online games; youth-led online dialogues; Virtual Worlds; and the Digital Media Initiative.

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