Announcement: Virtual Ability's 15th Annual Mental Health Symposium, Thursday June 25

 

You are invited to attend Virtual Ability's 15th annual Mental Health Symposium on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

The theme of this year’s Symposium is “PAIN.” This theme applies to everyone, not just to persons with disabilities. The broad topic allows our presenters and panelists from China, Canada, the UK, Belgium and the US to explore a variety of intersections between pain and mental health. Presenters will also offer various strategies for addressing these common issues.

Every year in the spring, our community hosts an international professional conference on topics related to mental health. Not only is this an opportunity for our community members to learn more about important subjects from experts they probably would not have a chance to meet otherwise, it allows the general public to attend a professional conference at no cost. 

The conference will take place in Virtual Ability’s Sojourner Auditorium, on Virtual Ability island. The SLURL for the auditorium is http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/54/170/23

You can view the conference schedule here: https://virtualability.org/mental-health-symposium-2026/

The livestream will be here: https://www.youtube.com/@VirtualAbilityInc/live

All are welcome. We hope you can attend!

PS- All of the educational poster sets in Healthinfo Island this month are on the topic of pain. You are welcome to visit them as well. 

 

Press Release: Eighth Annual Outshop Cancer Shopping Event

 

Out Shop Cancer Returns for 8th Year in Support of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

[Second Life – 2025] – The 8th annual Out Shop Cancer event is set to return this October in support of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the American Cancer Society. Running from October 1 – 31, 2025, this beloved fundraising event invites shoppers and hunters from across the Second Life grid to come together for a cause that touches millions.

Back again this year are the Out Shop Cancer Main Store and Marketplace Shopping Event and the ever-popular Grid-Wide Hunt, offering endless opportunities to shop, explore, and discover while raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research and support services.

Adding to the excitement, from October 15 – 31, the special themed event “Out Shop Cancer: Goth Darn-it! Let’s Find a Cure!” will take place, bringing together one-stop shopping in the Pop-Up Market, an inspiring Art Walk, festive pumpkin and float decorating contests, interactive workshops, and a full lineup of live entertainment.

Every Linden raised during Out Shop Cancer goes directly to the American Cancer Society, funding groundbreaking breast cancer research, patient support programs, and awareness efforts.

Join us this October in Second Life to shop, hunt, create, and celebrate while making a real difference in the fight against breast cancer. Together, we can shop with purpose and take another step closer to a cure.

Website: https://www.outshopcancersecondlife.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outshopcancersl
Primfeed: https://www.primfeed.com/out-shop-cancer
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/groups/outshopcancersl/
Donate online: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/outshopcancer

Landmark for Shopping Hud available October 1. 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chronotis%20Empire/201/90/23 

 

Reminder: Sunbeamer Air Show Today

 

Just a reminder, the Sunbeamer Air Show is today, It starts at 11 AM, and goes on to 6PM SL time. Events go on for the whole six hours, and will provide plenty of entertainment, from aerial acrobatics to DJ music.Plus, there's the balloon rides, the dunk tank with the German 88, and the aircraft displays that have been part of the show for years.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunlight%20Bay/174/67/22 

 

Press Release: RFL Sunbeamers 11th Annual Air Show

 

Welcome to the 11th Annual Sunbeamer Relay For Life Air Show

Team Sunbeamers welcomes you to the 11th Annual Sunbeamer RFL Air Show Fly-in on Saturday March 29th between the hours of 8AM to 5PM SLT. This year’s theme is World War II USO. There will be planes on display with information about them. You can rezz Your Own Plane and stunt around yourself but do ask you clean it up afterwards. Private flying will stop at 10:45am for the sky to be clear for the flight demonstration teams.

This year we welcome four flight demonstration teams and a closing dance
1. Anemone Wing Walking - 11 am slt.
2. Team Phoenix- 12 noon slt
3. French Air Patrol (PAF) - 1 pm slt'
4. Blue Angles - 2 pm slt.
DJ Kayla and the Kangaroos - 3pm till 5pm

A Pilot will be on hand to give balloon rides around the Sunweaver regions.

There will be a Laser Tag arena as well as a carnival midway with a number of activities to participate in. At each activity we ask for a donation to the Relay For Life kiosk located at each, not required but it would be nice.

On the field are Avatar Cannons! For a donation you will be shot out as an Avatar Cannonball!! Oh, and you should grab the free RFL 2025 logo textured parachute provided so that you have a gently landing.

You can take turns dunking either your partner, a Sunbeamer, or anyone in a dunk tank, Just onnnne little detail, instead of a beanbag you fire a German 88mm shell into its target!! There will be lots of other activities so come explore.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunlight%20Bay/174/67/22

 

Virtual Ability Town Hall

 

A few days ago, Virtual Ability had it's annual Town Hall meeting.  Gentle Heron and others in it's committee discussed to the crowd about what the group and it's location does and answered some questions near the end. Gemma Cleanslate was there, and took note of what was going on.

 

Read Gemma's article in Events. 

 

Announcement: Virtual Ability Presents The International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference (IDRAC) on Friday, Nov 15

 

Virtual Ability, Inc.® presents the 13th Annual International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference (IDRAC) on Friday, Nov 15, 2024.

This annual professional conference will be held online, and is free and open to the public.

The conference will take place in Second Life® at The Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island.Virtual Ability (54/170/23) 

The conference will also be Live Streamed on YouTube.

Our theme this year is “Disability & Health: Where will AI take us?” Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an area of current research interest and regulatory concern. It holds both promise and peril for people with disabilities and healthcare in general. The utility and problems of AI differ for people with different types of disabilities. This conference offers a quick look at this broad topic. We expect lively discussions and information sharing among presenters and our very interested and interactive audience.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

The events start at 7 AM SL time and end soon before 12 Noon. 

 

To see the schedule, Click Here. 

 

Virtual Ability's Annual International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference

 

You are cordially invited to attend Virtual Ability's annual International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference. This year it will be held on Friday, November 10. It is in Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability island.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/54/170/23

This year's theme is "Do, Create, Live." We're looking at what people with disabilities can do, create, and live when their rights are respected.

Here is the schedule (subject to change, and in SLT, of course).

7-7:30am - Joseph English will talk about how setting up QuadRebuild to help others changed his new life as a quadriplegic

7:30-8:30am - Erin Willis and Daniel Garza will explain their research on patient influencers who do direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical marketing

8:30-9:30am - Emily Wright, who survived multiple concussions, explains how she rebalanced her mind

9:30-10:30am - John Cronin, who has Down syndrome, describes his Crazy Socks store and how he runs it with his father Mark Cronin

10:30am-11am - a panel discusses what "Do, Create, Live" means in education

11:00-11:30am - BREAK!

11:30am-noon - Keri Gray tells about the National Alliance of Melanin Disabled Advocates (the NAMED Advocates).

noon-12:30pm - a panel discusses what "Do, Create, Live" means in the arts

12:30-1:30pm - Judy Mittag explains how advocates got federal legislation passed to require insurance coverage for lymphedema supplies

1:30-2:30pm - Heather Markham, author, shares how we can each choose a title for our own stories

You can learn more about the speakers here: https://virtualability.org/idrac-2023/

We hope you can attend our conference.

Questions? Ask Gentle Heron.

Press Release: 3rd Annual Homes For Our Troops Fundraiser

 

What: 3rd Annual Homes For Our Troops Fundraiser

When: 27 & 28 May, 2023 10am-11pm both days
DJs & Live Performers both days

We have some AMAZING sponsors lined up this year, SEVERAL of them joining us for the first time for this fundraiser.  THIS year, we have NOT ONE...BUT TWO bikes (L$3,000 value each) from Turlaccor Custom Bike that we'll raffle off, a Catamaran Sailboat (that's a boat with TWO hulls, for you landlubbers) from The Mesh Shop, Eagle from Rezz Room, and MORE!

We plan to have TWO days pack full of DJs, Performers, singers, and great times!

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/171/66/3501 

Fantasy Faire Opens Tomorrow

 Tomorrow, one of the most popular yearly events in Second Life begins, the Fantasy Faire. This Relay for Life event is known for a number of things, the shopping, the discussions, the Literary Festival, the jail and bails (sometimes with Lindens and Moles), the Fairelands Quest, and many well-designed sims that offer a lot to see. 

This year, there are a total of twenty-one sims to go about. Each of them has a unique theme. The event will go on from Thursday April 22 to Sunday May 9. So there's a lot to see. But don't hesitate to go as the time will be over before you know it. People with older computers may want to wait until late hours as the event is a popular one. But some sims will be more crowded than others. 

Addition: the main entrance is at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fairelands%20Junction/61/101/34 .

Scenes From The SLEA Celebration of The Arts

 

 Saturday January 23 and Sunday January 24 was the First Annual International Celebration of the Arts in the Second Life Endowment of the Arts. Over the two days, there were a number of events. Among those on Thursday was the "Misfit Follies."

Sitting down in the seats, people in the audience got a HUD that helped them keep an eye on the show. Over the course of their set, the dancers appeared as anthro birds, to firey figures to dancing rolls of toilet paper on a stage made to look like a bathroom.

On Sunday January 24, among those performing that day was Chapman Zane. He was a "Live Folk/Americana/Appalachian" singer whom performed for the crowd.

Stay tuned for stories on SLEA exhibits, and further events.

 Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: SLEA - First Annual International Celebration of the Arts

 

  Ƒíɾʂƭ ⱭղղʋąƖ ӀղƭҽɾղąƭíօղąƖ ƇҽƖҽɓɾąƭíօղ օƒ Ƭɦҽ Ɑɾƭʂ  
                                       
                 SATURDAY JANUARY 23   and   SUNDAY JANUARY 24
                                          Sponsored by
                        Տҽƈօղɗ líƒҽ Ҽղɗօωɱҽղƭ ƒօɾ Ƭɦҽ Ɑɾƭʂ
☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸
                ⱭƖƖ Ƥҽɾƒօɾɱąղƈҽʂ held at ՏlҼⱭ Ƥҽɾƒօɾɱíղɠ Ɑɾƭʂ Ƈҽղƭҽɾ
                                    Saturday January 23, 2021
                                           All Times ~ SLT  
                                           
1:00PM   Blue Oleander and Wizardoz Chrome ~ Machinima Artist Presentation and Screening

2:00PM   Moondance Parx ~ Visual Arts Particle Show
 
3:00PM  Arimo Teixeria ~ Spanish Acoustic Guitar/Sponsored by Cats MusikCircus

4:00PM  Caledonia Skytower of Seanchai LIbraries ~ INTERSECTION:Prose and Poetry of the Moment

5:00PM  "Misfit Follies" ~ A Showcase of Theater Dance ~ Misfit Dance and Performance Art
         SLEA7 (127/172/3000)    (Special Location) 

 
☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸☸                      
                                    Sunday January 24, 2021
                                              SLT Time  

6:00 AM  Thet and Wheelbyte ~ Indie-Folksters

7:00 AM  Keeba and The Tiny Maniacs ~Theater and Creative Arts and Shenanigans!

8:00 AM  Delia Lake ~ Literary Arts ~ Live "Art and Ecosystems"  Prose, Poetry

9:00 AM  Suzen Juel ~ Acoustic Soul and Blues sound, Composer and Artist

10:00AM  Lyric Serendipity ~  Live Rock 'N Roll, Pop, Blues ~ Sponsored By Kultivate

11:00AM  Sandia Beaumont ~ Performing Arts ~ Live Classical Jazz Pianist
            
12:00PM  Prowess Rayna ~ Performing Arts ~  Live Pianist ~ Composer

1:00 PM  The Imaginals and Mad As Dance ~ Theatrical and Performing Arts  

2:00 PM  Chap Zane ~ Live Folk/Americana/Appalachian

3:00 PM  Rapid Randy ~ Live Country Live Singer/ Sponsored by Kultivate

4:00 PM  Saxman66 ~ Live Jazz Sax

5:00 PM  KalenVanKalen ~ Live Singer Songwriter

6:00 PM  Thoth Jansen ~ Media Arts Premier of "Quantum Field Theory"  Experience ~ TJ is our DJ

7:00 PM  Thoth Jansen's "Quantum Field Theory"  Media Experience continues with DJ Verdant 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA7/32/32/56

Press Release: "Scare Me Silly" by Creations for Parkinson's

 

Join us from October 16 to 23, 2020 for the 5th Annual Scare Me Silly Event! This event will feature shopping, 2 hunts, live music, tricks & treats, and an art asylum where you can purchase art from some of your favorite artists, all in one location to benefit Team Diabetes of Second Life, an official and authorized team of the American Diabetes Association! Participation is 100% free for all merchants and artists!

For more information, Click Here.

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Water%20Haven/137/132/23 

RFL Announcement: Relaystock This Weekend

This Friday is the 7th annual Relaystock, a mult-team tribute to Woodstock organized by the Relay Rockers. The event promises three days of music, fun, and lots of mud. There will be numerous team camps, tents and VW campers, musicians on stage, including the finals of the CRFB DJ competition,  and the "Bid the Lindens Bald" fundraiser.

The event will be in the Relaystock2020 sim just north of the American Cancer Society sim: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/RelayStock2020/128/10/24 .

Stage Schedule:

Friday May 15th

1:30 - 3:00pm slt - DJ Stephanie - Bellisseria For Relay For Life
3:00 - 4:30pm slt - DJ DollEyes Barbosa - Too Tough To Die
4:30 - 6:00pm slt - DJ Evee - Spirit Of The Dragon
6:00 - 7:30pm slt - DJ Dredd Rocktatansky  - The River Rock Club
7:30 - 9:00pm slt - DJ Melina Firehawk -  Heroes Helping Heroes


Saturday May 16th

12:00 - 1:30pm slt  - DJ Angel Blossom - Seekers Of Hope
1:30 - 3:00pm slt   -  DJ Gem Sunkiller - Team Shadow
3:00 - 4:00pm slt   -  Max Kleene - Live Singer - Relay Rockers
4:00 - 5:00pm slt   -  Todd Rumsford - Life Singer - Cure Chasers
5:00 - 6:30pm slt   -   DJ Scott - Harmony Of Hope
6:30 - 8:00pm slt  -    The A Team - Friends For A Cure

Sunday May 17th

9:00 - 10:30am - Tommy James and The Shondells - Tribute Band - Rocking Sands
10:30am - 12:00pm - DJ Holocluck Henley - Aether Chrononauts Tiny Steps
12:00 - 1:00pm slt - Turner Harborough - Live Singer - Relay Rockers
1:00 - 2:00pm  slt - DJ Nuala Maracas - Relay Rockers
2:00 - 3:00pm  slt - CRFB Top DJ Finalist - DJ Baggie
3:00 - 4:00pm  slt - CRFB Top DJ Finalist - DJ Kayla
4:00 - 5:00pm  slt - DJ's Nikki, Sting, MamaP, Trader - Cancer Gets Stung
5:00 - 7:30pm  slt - DJ Trader Whiplash - The Time Machine Show - Relay Rockers
7:30 - 9:00pm  slt - DJ Kayla - Roos With A Dream

Over thirty teams are expected to take part.

RFL Announcement: RelayStock Registration Now Open For Teams

7th Annual RelayStock
A Multi Team Fundraising Event
May 15, 16,17

A weekend of Peace, Love, Rock n Roll, Hope and lots of MUD!
All teams welcome to participate - no cost
We supply the VW Van or Hippy Tent
You bring the Fundraising vendors, kiosks, decorations & fun
Team Stage time available (limited)

This books fast...reserve your spot soon!
See attached or go to www.relayrockers.org/relaystock

Flattop Ewing and Sarah Ewing on the Veterans Tribute

Once again, the Veterans Tribute is in Second Life. This year is different from recent ones in that the two people whom were behind it early on, Flattop Ewing and Sarah Ewing, have returned to Second Life after an absence. Back in organizing the tribute, the Newser recently met up with them to talk about the annual event to honor Veterans, in both it's early days and what it's become.

Read the article in People.

Veterans Tribute And Sci-Fi Expo Return

With Halloween over, attention turns to upcoming holidays. Among these is Veterans Day. And so the annual Second Life Veterans Tribute, the thirteenth one, has returned.

The Tribute itself is non-political and serves one purpose and one purpose only and that is to honor all the men and women that have given willing of their time to protect the lives we enjoy today. 

This wall consists of names submitted by those in Second Life to honor their loved ones from any branch of military service, in any country. Honoring those currently servinc, those who have served, and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country.

There will be at least one event at the Tribute, the SL Marine Corps Ball, on November 9, the day before the anniversary of the official founding of the Marine Corps.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Northern%20Lights/129/32/38

Also taking place is the Sci-Fi Expo. This sister event to the annual Sci-Fi Convention takes place every fall while the Con takes place in Spring or Summer. Taking place on the Solaris Station sim, the event raises funds for the Relay for Life, which does so in behalf of the American Cancer Society.

The kickoff for the Expo was on Saturday Nov 2. Further information can be found on the Sci-Fi Con website at https://scificonventionsl.wordpress.com/ .

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Solaris%20Station/107/79/38

Bixyl Shuftan

Addition:  I was told after writing this that the location of the Marine Corps Ball has been moved from the Tribute grounds to Veterans Isle.

The Kultivate 4th Annual Anniversary

Kultivate Magazine, a publication that focuses on the artistic side of Second Life, is celebrating it's fourth anniversary. As they do every year, they're celebrating with both an art show and music events every day this week. Marcel Mosswood of the Newser was there, and wrote about the event.

Read Marcel's story in Design.

Announcement: 14th Annual Raglan Shire Artwalk

ART! ON A HEDGE! IN THE FOREST! IN THE TREES!! EVERYWHERE!! AHHHHHH!

Once again, The Hedge has appeared and with it comes all the incredible Art hatched from the minds of creative & talented individuals for all to see!

This years ArtWalk promises to be the biggest one to date as we expect to surpass 200 within the next several days which will be the first time we’ve hit that number.

Friday is set up day and there is already a staggering amount of art of all types up and out for viewing. Whether it’s paintings (oil, acrylic, watercolor Etc) or Drawings and sketches (digital, pen, pencil, charcoal, crayon yada), Photography or 3D sculpture, There’s something for everyone to see and marvel at in addition to a bunch of extra’s you can experience to augment your enjoyment of the event!

Expect to also see live performances both Artistic and musical during the next 4 weeks!

ArtWalk officially begins May 12th and lasts a month so you all have time to come and have a look at all things creative and support the people who put the time in to share their Art with everyone!

Burn2 Begins

On Friday October 19, the Burn2 event started. The largest annual art and music festival in Second Life, it is based on the Burning Man festival which takes place in the summer. The event will go on until October 28, though the builds will likely be up for a little longer. This year's theme is "I, Robot."

As usual, the center build is "The Man," a man-shaped structure of wood that will be burned near the end. Often a towering figure, or on a tall base, this year's Man is a smaller one on a large wide base. Elsewhere is "The Temple," which resembled a firey oven.

With the theme "I, Robot," artists were invited to make exhibits with robots as a theme. Some expressed hopes or fears of a world filled with intelligent robots. Others were simply amusing.

And besides the exhibits there were events by DJs in which people danced to the music. The festival will last a while, but not forever. Be sure to drop by before October 28.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Burning%20Man-%20Deep%20Hole/115/86/24

Press Release: Virtual Ability's Annual International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference, October 5 and 6

This year Virtual Ability will hold its annual International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5 and 6. The theme of this year's conference is "Taking Care of Us."

We are very excited about the presenters we will have this year.

One is from the United Nations (he will speak at 8:30am SLT on Friday). Another is an Emmy award winning filmmaker (he presents Friday at 11:30am SLT). And on Saturday at 11am SLT, we will interview a Section Editor for the New York Times.

Our presenters are from Hong Kong, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the UK, Ghana and Mauritius as well as the US, so it's a truly international group of presenters. You can see the full schedule here: http://virtualability.org/idrac-2018/

Questions? You can email me (gentle@virtualability.org) or IM Gentle Heron.

Thank you kindly.