GAMES FOR CHANGE INC

GAMES FOR CHANGE LEARNSTUDENT CHALLENGEGAMES FOR CHANGE LEARN'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, THE GAMES FOR CHANGE STUDENT CHALLENGE, IS A NATIONAL GAME DESIGN COMPETITION THAT INVITES YOUTH TO CREATE DIGITAL GAMES ABOUT ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM USES YOUTH INTEREST IN VIDEO GAMES TO DEVELOP CODING AND DIGITAL DESIGN SKILLS, AS WELL AS PROBLEM SOLVING, COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, AND OTHER CRITICAL 21ST CENTURY SKILLS. THE CHALLENGE IS ALSO A PLATFORM FOR AMPLIFYING STUDENT VOICES, EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO IMAGINE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ENGAGED CITIZENS AND CHANGEMAKERS. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2015, THE CHALLENGE HAS TO DATE BENEFITED OVER 900 EDUCATORS AND 50,000 YOUTH, PRIMARILY STUDENTS IN TITLE I PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. ALMOST HALF OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE FEMALE, MORE THAN 60% ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR, AND MANY ARE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.GAME PLANGAME PLAN IS AN INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE FOR MUSEUM AND STEM EDUCATORS FOCUSED ON ADDING MORE GAME-LIKE LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS. EDUCATORS IN MUSEUMS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE NOW ADAPTING WHAT THEY LEARN INTO THEIR CURRICULA IN INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE WAYS AND ARE FORGING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE AS THEY COLLABORATE ON NEW PROGRAMS. GAME EXCHANGEGAME EXCHANGE IS A STATE DEPARTMENT-FUNDED VIRTUAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT USES GLOBAL YOUTH INTEREST IN VIDEO GAMES TO CONNECT TEENS IN THE U.S., BAHRAIN, ISRAEL, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. WITH THE HELP OF THEIR TEACHERS, TEENS FORM INTERNATIONAL "GAME STUDIOS," COLLABORATE TO DESIGN GAMES BASED ON THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

EVENTSFESTIVALTHE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES THE GAMES FOR CHANGE FESTIVAL (THE "FESTIVAL"), WHICH IS THE BIGGEST GAMING EVENT IN NEW YORK CITY. IT BRINGS TOGETHER LEADERS FROM GOVERNMENT, CORPORATIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY, MEDIA, ACADEMIA AND THE GAMING INDUSTRY TO EXPLORE THE INCREASING REAL-WORLD IMPACT OF DIGITAL GAMES AS AN AGENT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. THE FESTIVAL IS ALSO A SHOWCASE FOR SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE NEW GAMES IN PRODUCTION.