Transitions

Challenges Entered:

Homeless Portal on the web A resource for finding local service providers quickly, a widget tool flexible enoug to import and embed across webspaces and virtual worlds. A Place for Dreams resource guide and mashup site Serving to move people forward to new opportunities through virtual world interaction, building homes and new communities and businesses while learning new skills. Second Life hubs for the displaced worldwide A series of safe spaces and buildable communities donated by partners for this Transitions pilot project. Tools and materials from allied organizations Access to free phone voicemail, email, training, education through our project partners and friends worldwide. How*to*find*it GuideSimple downloadable resource for libraries and CTC services to make it simple to find all needed resources in just a few minutes. Life skills curricula Developed in collaboration with pilot experiment and partners, managed by Floaters with the pilot project experiments in virtual worlds and live in Phoenix.

What else have you done in this area of work?

Service providers recognize the need for aggregated information; we gather to mashup in Second Life. Together we provide services to thousands; this project is a natural collaboration between our organizations. We bring different tools to share for those in transition.
Floaters Technology training for displaced out of Phoenix, Sandra Andrews will be overseeing the pilot with Floaters in Second Life.
Community Voicemail Services include free voicemail, Jessica Dally is active in Second Life.
Amoration New media consulting for nonprofits, Evonne Heyning serves communities on virtual worlds, advising on design with Vesuvius Group volunteers.
StreetSmart Detroit Video game takes players through the experience of trying to get a job and new home while homeless, Brad Jensen is the technical lead.

Project Details

Project url:

http://aplacefordreams.com (and .org)

Project video:

Supporting organization:

Floaters

Project Assessment

Financial support:

Project has financial support

Project goals:

Thousands will find local services like food, shelter, jobs Thousands of web users will be more aware on homelessness Access to immediate information for the displaced available 10 people will start new businesses 20 people will imagine and build their new virtual home These 20 people will become peer mentors for another 20. After building their virtual homes, the 40 virtual world participants will be able to tell us whether they feel closer to being able to design a RL reality that includes a home. Their findings will help determine whether virtual worlds like Second Life are an appropriate tool for people to use in redesigning their lives.

Identified Obstacles:

Programmers to create mashup widget for searchWeb developer for portal buildoutAdditional graphic/content volunteers (web and other virtual)Mentors for those in transition (some currently available)Community technology partners to provide computers, accessDevelopment support (financial, talent, PR and partnerships)Donations of equipment for successful pilot

Location

Phoenix, AZ

United States

See map: Google Maps

Submitted by evonne on February 29, 2008 - 3:13pm

Thanks to a great Transitions team

Submitted by evonne on February 29, 2008 - 3:40pm.

Website and more details from our team coming soon; in the meantime we have a Facebook group and regular team meetings in Second Life if you'd like to join us there, or leave your comments here for our team. Thanks!

~Evonne~

"The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get but what you give.... In any case, the giving of love is an education in itself." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Good luck!

Submitted by Tora on March 14, 2008 - 1:32pm.

Great project Evonne! I just gave it a star.

I have looked into using Second Life to do how-to videos for small businesses in developing countries, especially to run the story once, and then change the avatar to look like different people - Fijian man, Afghan woman, etc. Look forward to telling you more about it.

Meanwhile, I have submitted a mashup project called Biz-o-mat which you can see here. It helps small businesses in developing countries.

If you like it, please give it a star before COB today.

Thanks! See you in California in May!

Amazing team!

Submitted by evonne on March 14, 2008 - 1:31pm.

First, thanks to Susan for posting a great blog post on our behalf at http://www.netsquared.org/blog/susan-tenby/netsquared-meets-second-life-...

Second, let me give the stage and comment floor to the rest of our amazing team! This is a tremendous initiative that started collaboratively through Second Life's Nonprofit Commons.

Ozma Malibu (Sandra Andrews at the Hackathon) provides technology assistance for those in transition through Floaters in Phoenix, AZ, our pilot program curriculum lead.

Kali Izdiak at Community Voicemail provides free phone numbers and voicemail to make the life stabilization and job search process easier.

Buffy Beale with Bridges for Women will mentor new project participants, especially formerly battered/abused women.

In Kenzo (Evonne @ Amoration) provides design and development assistance along with mentorship and planning behind the scenes.

Ren Javelin of the Faith Foundation, IHave NoLand of Street Smart Detroit, Rhiannon and Amulius at Vesuvius and many other volunteers from the Nonprofit Commons have provided technical and planning assistance as we gather these resources for this mashup. We've talked to Kiva about providing technical assistance for the microloan business model and many virtual professionals have offered time, equipment and talent to help this project grow.

Thank you Susan and Megan @Techsoup for your support as we develop this project together, and thanks to our amazing team for their work on this initiative! We are excited to share this work with you.