International Avatars Initiative

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>International Avatars Initiative</B></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> Welcome to the <B>International Avatars Initiative</B>.</div> <bR> <div> The <I>IAI </I>is currently in planning stages. Its mission is to schedule and host a <B>weekly series of avatar events </B>with students around the globe who express diversity of <B>cultural identity through graphic design </B>(avatar shapes, textures, and animations). During scheduled online meetings, <B>students in avatar encounter students from other cultures</B>. Special candidates for the IAI are <B>youth in conflict zones </B>(such as Israeli and Palestinian youths) or <B>youth in underserved communities </B>(such as the Intel PC Clubhouse at Breakaway in Los Angeles). The <I>IAI </I>events in 3D avatar chat (graphic self-presentations) are <B>designed by students under the guidance of volunteer college mentors</B>. The project is envisioned as a five-year development combining <B>educational technology with international coordination</B>. </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Principles"><U>Principles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current Crisis"><U>Current Crisis</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Background"><U>Background</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Components"><U>Components</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nodes"><U>Nodes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><U>Contact</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="04d6b400.jpg" border=0 width="363" height="320" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> </tr></table></body>