An unconventional forum to discuss the impacts of war

Not long ago, Intersections Program Coordinator Scott Thompson participated in an unconventional meeting. With about 15 3D participants to his left and 15 to his right, Scott sat in a private remote island location, where he observed the first ever virtual Veteran-Civilian Dialogue. In this unconventional password-protected environment, Intersections offered veteran and civilian participants a forum to talk about war’s impact on us all. With access only a click of a mouse away and available to the entire world, this virtual setting may provide a new environment to host these conversations.

“We’ve designed the process of the Veteran-Civilian Dialogue. The virtual world allows us to build the environment and bring the same process into Second Life,” said Thompson. The Veteran-Civilian Dialogue is a comprehensive and replicable program that works to empower veterans to fully re-integrate into civilian society and educate civilians on the unique needs and strengths of returning military personnel.

These facilitated conversations have traditionally taken place at Intersections’ NYC office, where equal numbers of veterans and civilians converse about their unique experiences with war. By allowing the virtual world access to these conversations, “anyone anywhere in the world can access the experience,” said Thompson.

CEO David Thompson of Remedy Communications and Co-Founders Jena Ball and Marty Keltz of The Virtual World Story Project met in early April with Thompson and Intersections Director Robert Chase. They discussed how to create a 3D experience of the Veteran-Civilian Dialogue that accurately emulates the program. The conversation also explored how to design and build the virtual island in Second Life where the conversations are held.

The Virtual World Story Project works to understand how virtual worlds affect, enhance and change how we see and interact with one another as individuals and communities. Remedy Communications has worked with nonprofit and for-profit organizations on a variety of communications strategies. Both partners will help Intersections build the virtual forum for future conversations. A few more pilot dialogues are scheduled before the official tentatively midsummer 2010 launch.