First Annual Afrofuturism and Juneteenth Celebrations on the Metaverse
William and Aida Jackson, educators and entrepreneurs
spoke and taught at the recent Afrofuturism Experiences
event in Jacksonville, Florida. Their presentations focused
on those attending in-person and virtual guests of artists,
families, businesses owners, entrepreneurs, educators,
politicians. Not for profit organizations and schools: private,
public and charter need to understand the new demands
for tech knowledge and skills.
Attending were educators to learn new directions and
projects students will be performing as technology is more
immersive.
Teachers must be technology capable, metaverse skilled,
immersive and project based guided. Knowledgeable to
meet the demands of students and prepare students for
new careers that have not been created yet.
Political candidates running for office attending to learn how
the future of politics will be changed with the advances of
emerging technologies on the Metaverse, Altspace VR and
other digital platforms.
The great interest in NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), the Metaverse,
Blockchain technologies, the development of Web 3.0 and its
potential future influences in career choices for youth, teens and
young adults. How finances, and commerce will be influenced
to change the strategies and models of
engagement and success for businesses.
There was a discussion about internet safety for families
given by Aida Correa Jackson, professor with Lenoir Rhyne
University. Mrs. Jackson, an honored artists with several
hundred art pieces minted on the Blockchain being sold globally.
https://spatial.io/s/She-Gallery-62801bcda83b5000011cb1e4?share=530395775800769367
Her presentation showed several
metaverse sites using her laptop and Oculus that was connected
to several metaverse sites to show immersive environments,
engagements with people as avatars and even how to teleport
from one site to another.
William Jackson, Duval County Public Schools teacher shared
what he is teaching in the technology lab with digital projects to
build digital, artistic NFTs and STEAM skills that students will
need to know before they enter high school. Using the software
Paint 3D, Mr. Jackson, also a professor with FSCJ and past
NASA educator shared how students are creating NFTs to
be able to sell as artists and learning how to be entrepreneurs.
Vocal and mixed media artists, J Myztroh (Stono Echo) & Arson
Fist & Ebony Payne-English provided music, spoken word, rap
and mixed music with reality in video.
There performances spoke volumes in how technology has and
will continue to change the music and movie industries.
Dorothy Mlambo, Center Manager at Christoph Meyer Math &
Science Centre located in South Africa, her students
submitted digital arts for the artists gallery showing that
global collaborations are being done between nations.
The event held at WJCT television studios to an audience that
was in-person and globally virtual. Reaching approximately
15,000 people in the United States, Africa, Canada, the UK
and the Middle East.
The weekend of Juneteenth was the perfect opportunity to
celebrate the theme “Freedom,” and historical information
of why Juneteenth is celebrated as a national holiday.
Juneteenth celebrated on the Metaverse is the first of its
kind and set the foundation for national holidays in the future
to change their venues and collaborate with in-person and
metaverse digital spaces.
Afro-Futurism Conference https://afrofuturismexperience.com/
Applying the use of STEAM, and Digital Learning, that NFTs, the
Metaverse, Altspace VR, Infiniverse and other spaces can help to
educate and empower people. The use of tech is influential in how
youth see careers of the future. It is important that as technology
changes people continue to change, pivot, adapt and modify their
thinking.
If not, they will potentially be left behind and locked out of new and
higher earning careers that require technology skills, talents and
creative thinking. Looking at the percentages, 85% of all careers
from 2010 to 2015 demand technology skills (Pew Research 2021).
The statistics are showing that (BUSINESS WIRE 2022)
nearly three out of four (73 percent) of employed respondents
in a national survey conducted by DeVry University said the
use of technology has become critical in their careers. More
than half (51 percent) said they need to learn new technology
skills to either keep their job, get a promotion or find a new
position at a different company. Information from resources
like ITIF
https://itif.org/publications/2021/11/29/assessing-state-digital-skills-us-economy/
“If America could train just five million more workers for
digital jobs in the next five years, it would drive an estimated
$250 billion more in U.S. GDP growth.” Stats show 85 to 90
percent of new jobs from 2019 demand digital skills, if
Americans do not have those skills, then foreign workers
will be obtained to do important jobs with higher pay.
Americans are behind in digital skills and face continued
decline if schools, colleges and universities do not train
more American students much needed digital skills.
The changes to our economy, education, commerce,
communications are happening now, and people must be
able to pivot in new and emerging careers to stay employed
and employable. To compete globally digital technologies,
Robotics, AI (Artificial Intelligence), VR (Virtual Reality),
MX (Mixed Realty) and other fields need creative and
innovative people.
The Afrofuturism Experience provided just a peek of
what is coming and the importance of proper education,
training, mentoring, and business development.
Afro-Futurism Conference https://afrofuturismexperience.com/