WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) selected 20 minority youth (ages 15-25) as ESA LOFT (Leaders on the Fast Track) Video Game Innovation Fellows. The Fellows were chosen for the original video games and apps they developed to address social issues in their communities and will be flown in to Washington, D.C., to present their ideas to the White House, U.S. Congress, and national community leaders on Thursday, October 22nd.
“Through this creative partnership with the ESA, we are engaging youth on their terms through video games and apps to make a positive social impact,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of HHF. “We believe there is a link from playing a video game to developing a game to computer coding, cybersecurity and other workforce skills gap areas America is desperately trying to fill. It is also important minority youth are encouraged to be content creators, not just consumers.”
The agenda for the 2015 LOFT Video Game Innovation fellows includes:
Thursday, October 22, 2015
· 9:00 a.m. Fellows video game and app presentation at The Raben Group- 5th Floor, 1341 G St NW (open to press)
· 11:00 a.m. Congressional Briefing on Capitol Visitors Center, Room HVC-215 (open to press, credentials required)
· 3:00 p.m. White House Briefing (closed to press)
“The ESA LOFT Video Game Innovation Fellowship underscores the fact that games are a valuable tool for positive change in our society,” said Rich Taylor, Senior Vice President of Communications and Industry Affairs at the ESA. “We are proud to offer an opportunity that will help foster and promote creative thinking and innovation in minority communities, and cultivate future innovators of our industry, through the unique platform only video games can provide.”
To see the Fellows’ games, visit www.LOFTinnovation.org. To follow the activities on social media, follow #LOFTFellows.
About the Entertainment Software Association
The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers, including conducting business and consumer research, providing legal and policy analysis and advocacy on First Amendment, intellectual property and technology/e-commerce issues, managing a global anti-piracy program, owning and operating E3, and representing video game industry interests in federal and state government relations. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com or follow us on Twitter at @RichatESA or @ESAGovAffairs.
About the Latinos on the Fast Track Program
LOFT is HHF’s award-winning, leadership, and workforce development program focused on America’s priority fields including STEM, entrepreneurship, education, and innovation. Tens of thousands of students and young professionals are connected to each other; prepared through trainings, priority-field-tailored symposia, workshops, and Charlas; and hundreds are placed into internships, mentorships, fellowships and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Join and follow LOFT on Twitter - @LOFTInstitute and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/hhfloft/. Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org for info on HHF.
2015 ESA VIDEO GAME INNOVATION FELLOWS
Christopher Carbajal
Male, 20
Burbank, CA 94558
DollarDreams: App Store for Non-Profits
Alyssa Edmund
Female, 17
Astoria, NY 11105
Your Personal Friend: Online Support System
William Emanuel
Male, 17
Napa, CA 94558
Neighborhood Water Watch: Water Conservation
Andrew Gayle
Male, 15
Mirmar, FL 33025
The Trash Eliminator: World Pollution
Naomi Hareid
Female, 18
Marana, AZ 85653
Surgery: Strategic Moves
Jacky Jimenez
Female, 15
Astoria, NY 11102
Finding Your Future: College and Job Opportunities
Gerardo Leon
Male, 17
Houston, TX 77036
Learn Realm: Study and Test Preparation
Omar Lopez
Male, 23
Oxnard, CA 93030
Project Echoes: Choices and Consequences
Nicodemus Madehdou
Male, 19
Philadelphia, PA 19136
Turbo Finger Swipe: Early Childhood Education
Giselle Martinez
Female, 17
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Reflecxio: Increase Productivity
Ashley Miller
Female, 21
Chicago, IL 60625
Phantom Limb: Sexual Assault
Ana Nico-Silva
Female, 19
Watsonville, CA 95076
Youth Empowerment Institute: Food Justice Quiz
Aleida Olvera
Female, 17
Brownsville, TX 78526
SmartGuard: An Emergency Alert System
Margot Richaud
Female, 17
Long Island City, NY 11106
Space Cleaners: Space Debris Awareness
Nicholas Romero
Male, 21
Chapel Hill, NC 02048
HightStep: Healthier Lifestyle
Juan Torres
Male, 16
San Francisco, CA 94110
Uncover Police Brutality: Police Brutality
Alisha Ukani
Female, 17
Weston, MA 02493
Proton: Addressing Self-Esteem
Noelle Vela
Female, 21
Lubbock, TX 79415
Raza: Increasing Hispanic Political Engagement
Jabari Voss
Male, 16
New York, NY 11221
The Real Politician: Understanding Fundamentals of Politics
Jenny Xu
Female, 16
Cambridge, MD
Hungry Trash Protecting the Environment
CONTACT:
Dan Hewitt
(202-223-2400)
dhewitt@theesa.com
Gabi Huesca
(909-306-4050)
ghuesca@rabengroup.com
Bayonia Marshall
(240) 200-2263
bayonia@hispanicheritage.org
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