DIVAS for Social Justice Hosts Interactive Community Exhibit Introducing The Laurelton Community to Virtual Reality

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VR Mentor Amia McDonald provides guidance to Xenia Rivera of P.S 132 using the Oculus Rift.

On May 19, 2018, DIVAS for Social Justice hosted an interactive community exhibit at Laurelton Library. The exhibit featured the STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) based work of the organization’s after-school programs in the following locations: Macon Library (Bedford Stuyvesant), The Linden SDA School (Laurelton), P.S 156 (Laurelton), P.S 132 (Laurelton). The staff of DIVAS for Social Justice has worked across the board to teach STEAM based activities to the participants in our program that results in interactive projects that were featured in the exhibit. The community exhibit featured a virtual reality experience from each location, multi-media based community journalism and beautiful art work representing the importance of mental health and wellness. In addition, DIVAS for Social Justice had on hand a team of Virtual Reality Mentors to educate the greater community about Virtual Reality and provided the opportunity for community residents to experience VR in different formats that included using a 360 degree camera, viewing VR Experiences through Google Cardboard and experiencing VR with the Oculus Rift.

Students from P.S 156 have their work featured at the community exhibit

Many parents came to the community exhibit to support their children
The STEAM for Social Change After-School Staff and VR Mentors
Mrs. Lindsay and Mrs. Buggs with the students of P.S 132

 

VR Mentor Amia McDonald provides guidance to Xenia Rivera of P.S 132 using the Oculus Rift.

This program is supported by Councilman Donovan Richards, The Pinkerton Foundation, The Department of Youth & Community Development and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

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Clarisa James
Clarisa James is the Co-Founder/Executive Director of DIVAS (Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice. For the past seven years DIVAS has provided free or sliding scale technology training to youth in underserved communities in Central Brooklyn and Southeast Queens. Ms. James has been dedicated to youth development work for the past 15years in the roles of Teaching Artist, After School Director, Curriculum Specialist and artist. Her life's work encompasses empowering youth in underserved communities to use technology for social change and think critically about the issues that are affecting them most. For the past seven years Ms. James has facilitated workshops that help youth develop multimedia projects around environmental justice, housing, leadership development and reproductive justice. Ms. James holds an MFA in Integrated Media Arts from Hunter College's Film & Media Department. In addition to DIVAS for Social Justice, Ms. James currently serves on the advisory board of the Children’s Cabinet, Office of the Deputy Mayor Strategic Policy Initiatives at City Hall. Clarisa James is full of gratitude to her parents for providing such a wonderful upbringing and having the foresight to move into the community of Laurelton in the early 1970's. Clarisa is proud to be a daughter of Laurelton.