New Video from the Virtual Worlds Story Project

I came across this in my daily feeds, a link to a video "Educators Discover the Magic of Story Quests". The video recounts highlights and of course relays the benefits of questing with excellent footage of the latest quest by Jenaia and Marty of the Virtual Worlds Story Project. It's a short video, but definitely worth a look. Jen and I spoke briefly a few days ago about the project and of the plans for Worlds Aids Day on December 2^nd. If you page down a bit, there's a press release that I posted earlier in the day about the event to be held in Second Life. I had participated in the "Uncle D" quest and had written a short story. I was thrilled when Jen asked me to read the story on December 2^nd and eagerly accepted the invitation.

WORLD AIDS DAY 2009” A TRIBUTE TO THE HEALING POWER OF STORIES IN REAL AND SECOND LIFE®

INTERNATIONAL HIV/AIDS GROUPS SET TO COLLABORATE ON MULTI-MEDIA, MIXED REALITY CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE

____________

A "Virtual Story Tree" Dedicated to the Life of Ryan White among the Highlights of the Day

Los Angeles, CA November 9, 2009 --As more and more leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS recognize the potential for outreach and education in Second Life® (SL), their focus has gone virtual. This year's World AIDS Day events promise to break new ground as a diverse group of international organizations join Karuna* (the NLM-funded HIV/AIDS sim in SL) and its SL partners to cross borders of time, space, and geography to celebrate the lives of those dealing with HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day 2009 events in SL will be focused on the healing power of stories and storytelling - a hallmark of the work being done by Karuna and its partners. "One of the mandates of the grant that funds Karuna is that we collect, preserve, and share stories," says Jena Ball, the Coordinator of Karuna. "It is among the reasons we chose to celebrate the courageous life and story of Ryan White and created a 'Virtual Story Tree' to honor his memory."

"Second Life® has allowed us to create an immersive, supportive, and collaborative environment in which information can be presented in ways that help de-stigmatize and personalize the subject of HIV/AIDS," Ball continues.

Partnering organizations for the World AIDS Day events with Karuna and SL are a broad range of organizations and individuals from universities, research organizations HIV/AIDS activists, corporations and foundations - HIV/AIDS NLM, RTI, RTP, STHLNY, CFAR, NIH, ALS, IBM, AIDS.gov, TVWSP. ROF, RTP, Four Bridges Project, Jokaydia, VHH, and SAM (list in formation).

"We all believe in the emerging use of virtual worlds that allow people to create content and to connect in ways that are more rich and experiential than historically possible through traditional media," says Brent Ward, Director of Commercialization for Research Triangle International (RTI), one of the world's leading independent, nonprofit research and development organizations.

Highlights WORLD AIDS DAY 2009:

* Welcome

* Formal Opening of "Ryan White Story Tree"

* Live streaming of activities at Research Triangle Park (RTP)

* Guided Tours of SL HIV/AIDS Sims and Activities

* Live music by SL musicians at Remember Our Friends (R.O.F)

* Guided Tours of "The Life and Times of Uncle D" (TVWSP)

* SL Exhibits by sculptors, photographers, painters and builders

* International Exhibits by Students at universities and colleges

* Presentations of original stories, songs, poems and letters by SL artists

The Virtual Worlds Story Project Launches “The Life and Times of Uncle D”

Groundbreaking Multi-media Approach Uses Machinima and Virtual Reality to Fight HIV/AIDS

The Virtual Worlds Story Project Launches "The Life and Times of Uncle D"

Thursday, October 1, 2009, 12 Noon (PST), Second Life

Los Angeles, CA [September 23, 2009] -- Second Life: At noon (PST) on October 1, 2009, The Virtual Worlds Story Project (TVWSP), a production company that specializes in using new media and storytelling to engage, educate, and create community, will tackle its biggest topic to date: HIV/AIDS.

TVWSP is a project of Martin Keltz and Jena Ball. Known throughout Second Life as creative, passionate educators, Ball and Keltz have developed a signature approach to storytelling. Known as "Story Quests." These one-of-a-kind, 3D environments draw participants into and encourage them to help create stories. In their latest Quest, participants will explore the life of an HIV-positive person known simply as "Uncle D."

"The only way to eradicate a pandemic like HIV/AIDS is through education," says Ball, co-founder of TVWSP and Coordinator of Karuna* the National Library of Medicine-funded island devoted to HIV/AIDS education in Second Life. "One of the biggest challenges we face is the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. It's not enough to understand prevention. People must be helped to become passionate about saving lives. Stories are the way to do that."

"The power of story is undeniable," says Keltz, co-founder of TVWSP and producer of such well-known educational television programs as The Baby-Sitters Club, The Magic School Bus, and Goosebumps. "When combined with machinima and immersive, interactive environments in Second Life, stories come alive."

The Quest, entitled "Stories Without Borders: The Life and Times of Uncle D" and the compelling film made from its story line will premiere Thursday, October 1, 2009 at Noon (PST) in Second Life. In addition to the film's screening, attendees will be treated to live music, a Q and A session with the actors and producers, and guided tours of the Quest.

To see the film's trailer, visit the TVWSP YouTube Channel at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKCVLwFKxYU

*Karuna is a word from an ancient language in India that means to ease suffering. Karuna Island in Second Life is funded by a grant from the National Library of Medicine and written by Lori Bell of the Alliance Library System.

An Update on the Reluctant Quester

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post here in Lane's List about the "Reluctant Quester" and good friends Jenaia Moraine and Marty Snowpaw. You may recall my having explained that Jen and Marty are well known in second life for their work on the Virtual World Story Project. I'd also written an article about their recent activities which appeared in a SL Newspaper article, "Stories without Borders Quest Workshop at 2009 SLCC". This evening I received an e-mail update from Jen announcing that the adventures of the Reluctant Quester and Cice his "opinionated sidekick" had been captured in a machinima by filmmaker Ariella Furman. The machinima will air in an invitation only premier in Second Life on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at noon PDT/SLT. Meanwhile, here's a taste, a trailer that I'd viewed previously but watched again and again tonight, "SWB-The Life and Times of Uncle D – Trailer".

I know you'll be as captivated as I was … enjoy.

The Reluctant Quester

The following came to me by way of good friend and fellow writer, Jenaia Moraine. She is well known in second life for her work on the Virtual World Story Project along with co-founder Marty Snowpaw. Jen explained in the note card she'd left for me that Marty is writing "a series of posts about what it was like to grow up in an education system that labeled him stupid, incorrigible, and even retarded."

An invitation from Marty was included and follows:

FROM MARTY SNOWPAW: A Learning Feast

"Who are the learning disabled? How about me? Today, the term would be "learning differences," but back when I was going through school that more politically correct term hadn't yet been coined. I was more used to hearing words like, "stupid" or "moron" - sometimes "incorrigible", slow, and underachiever," with an occasional "retard" thrown in for good measure.

Today, with many years as a teacher and producer of children's educational programming under my belt, I'm revisiting and rethinking my childhood experiences. Using the Questing model we've developed at the Virtual World Story Project in Second Life I am utilizing stories and storytelling to exorcise old ghosts and help others celebrate the gift of their differences.

In virtual worlds, such as Second Life, online games, and social media those like myself have found our place at the table. It's a learning feast accomplished almost entirely without the help of institutions and educational professionals. Moreover, we are building communities based on diversity that welcome both, the able and disabled, the tall, fat, and skinny, and encourage intergenerational interaction. Nice.

You can read about my adventures as the Reluctant Quester, ably aided and abetted by my therapy dog Cice, at the Virtual Worlds Story Project's Blog . I hope you will share them with students who need encouragement and colleagues who need sensitizing to who we really are, the so called "Dumb and Dumber." Comment, contribute, tell us your story or your students' or your child's stories. Telling stories will make you and the people who hear them feel better. I do."