[Air-L] Lecture: Elaine Gomez on "The Impact of Genuine and Mindful Inclusion of Marginalized Communities in Creative Works"

[Gerald Voorhees]

Dear Colleagues,

Please join the Games Institute <https://uwaterloo.ca/games-institute/> at
the University of Waterloo (February 24, 1-3 PM Eastern) for a Lecture by
Elaine Gomez (Brass Lion Games) on "The Impact of Genuine and Mindful
Inclusion of Marginalized Communities in Creative Works."
<https://uwaterloo.ca/games-institute/events/impact-genuine-and-mindful-inclusion-marginalized>

*This is a free, online event! **Eventbrite registration required.
<https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/impact-of-genuine-inclusion-of-marginalized-communities-in-creative-works-tickets-513038480907?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb>*

Creative works have the power to uplift individuals or destroy years of
activist work through the perpetuation of stereotypical perceptions. The
gravity and pressure of these responsibilities often falls heavily on
marginalized creatives. In an ideal world, as a collective, we could share
the burdens together through processes that are inclusive, mindful and
authentic. The more we understand each other's experiences, history, and
backgrounds, the more impactful our work will be. Join Elaine Gómez as she
expands on core principles that are currently shaping creative decision
making in game development and how being part of a diverse workplace and
active in organizations that give back makes a difference to those that
matter most.

*About the speaker:*

Elaine Gomez is a prominent figure within the digital works community, and
co-founder of Latinx in Gaming. As a Latina, she has lived experience
within the games industry, is an independent Unity developer and games
educator. Through her presentation, she plans to connect cultural
appreciation and representation in games and other digital works. In her
presentation, she will speak about how gaming has the power to destroy the
perpetuation of stereotypical perceptions and will explain how games can be
designed in a powerful and uplifting way. By understanding one another’s
experiences, histories, cultural experiences and backgrounds, we can shape
creative decision making in games development to be a more inclusive,
mindful and authentic place.





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Gerald Voorhees, Ph.D. (he/him)

Associate Professor

Department of Communication Arts

University of Waterloo

257A ML, Waterloo ON, N2L 3G1


President, Canadian Game Studies Association
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*I acknowledge that I live and work on the traditional territory of the
Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The
University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land
promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometers on each side of
the Grand River. *