My passion for nonprofits, education, and creative uses of online tools for greater effectiveness and impact come together in my Second Life project; Etopia. I’m so proud to have Etopia featured in the January 2016 issue of Eclipse Magazine; http://bit.ly/1JbuRDC
For those unfamiliar with Second Life, it’s a virtual environment in which users interact with each other and a world they create. Think of it as a social platform on steroids. It’s also a platform for enhancing the way we work together. My goal with the virtual environment I helped create and continue to build upon is to allow visitors to learn about community, mindfulness, and sustainability.
I know sustainability is a buzz word, but it is a focus I work with clients on adopting and applying to their organizations. There are many things that go into building a business whether it’s a brick and mortar operation or solely Internet-based. Green infrastructure considerations apply to both. Increasing efficiency while lowering negative impact on the world around us benefits the environment and everyone in it.
Etopia has been my way of demonstrating what we can do to create community, live well, and work successfully. The nonprofits and professionals that call Etopia home in Second Life not only appreciate this, but contribute to it.
Virtual environments aren’t for everyone. There is a learning curve. There are those that see Second Life as another online gaming platform like World of Warcraft. However, when evaluated in context of a changing business world and in light of the educational opportunities inherent in immersive experiences, Second Life, and by extension Etopia, offer limitless possibilities.