Samantha's First Impression.

What was your first impression on Second Life and meeting with Dr. Giuseppe Russo?
My first impression on second life, I thought that it was very cool and a challenge. But it is also a long very long project. This is something that I have never experience. It gives you a chance to show you’re creative and imagination. I was surprised to hear that some business, researchers, doctors, students, the entertainment industry etc. actually uses this virtual world. At first when I hear about second life I thought about the Sims. But when I saw it its better then Sims. To me this gives you a chance to create a world of your own. Something far more perfect from reality. Somewhere you can be yourself or a total new person.

Meeting with Dr. Giuseppe Russo was very informational. He informed me and my group a lot about Second Life. Even though it was quite hard to understand him because of his heavy accent. We were showed a video that really touched my heart. It was about a man whose wife was in a coma, created a virtual world. He creates buildings and things that you see on the street. But he also created a flower. The flower was the last thing that he wife saw before the coma. I almost cried when I show this video.



What are your expectations?

What I expect to get out of this program is knowledge. I say that because I doesn’t hurt the learn or try new and exciting things. For me this program has taught me new things and the things that I do know I have a better understanding of it. This is a great opportunity for teens like me who have dreams and goals that they want to reach in life. Even though it is a limit time period. It has given me a chance to meet and make some new friends.

Lanee

My first impression about second life is really interesting I think once I really start getting into the second life project, it will be a lot of fun and a new learning experience. When I first arrived here and I was told what were going to be doing I really didn’t have an honest clue about second life, but now I think I understand it, a little bit better. The second Life project seems like a lot of work, but I guess when I really get started I will have a better understanding about it and it will be fun. Dr. Giuseppe Russo from the Sbarro institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, seems like a really intelligent intellectual; who loves his career, and is willing to teach other people that don’t know that much about second life; how it really works.

My expectations out of this experience are to learn some new things. Take what I learned back to my community, neighborhood, family and friends and tell them about everything I learned that was new & what stuck out to me the most. I’m hoping this program will provide me with meaningful and challenging experiences that can hopefully prepare for my life after college. From this experience I’ve learned some new things and they are:
* What a Portfolio is?
* How to dress and make yourself presentable on an interview?
* How to make eye contact and shake hands when meeting a potential boss or supervisor?

My first impression of second life…

I think that second is interesting. At first I didn’t really understand the concept, but after watching the videos and listening to Dr. Giuseppe explain more about the program and what it is that we are going to do I kind of understood a little better. I think creating the simulation will be a fun learning experience; personally I am not into online games and the whole virtual reality craze. My expectation is to learn something new, something that I can also use in the future.

-Angelique

Malcolm Jones

This morning we learned a little more about second life virtual world reality world. We was informed by Dr. Giuseppe Russo who is a expert on the second life program. My first impression on the program is that it would be a good interesting to figure the in and out of the program. We also are contributing the program with our group project about the historic landscapes. My expectation are that as the week go by the will learn more about second life and get the hang of the basic controls.

What were your first impressions of Dr.Giuseppe and what are your Expectations???

My first impressions were that he was very intelligent and He knew more than enough about computer. My Expectations are that I learn more about second life and gain more information.

By Shyniqua

Presentation on Second Life

Today we had a presentation on the Second life by a man named Dr. Giuseppe Russo.
He seem like he have a lot of experience on the creation of the Second Life project.
To me it seem kind of confusing, but interesting too.
He let us know this is not a project that you can just complete in one day.
So my impression is that you have to have patience dealing with a project like this.
There are many steps to building a Second Life virtual.
It seems that it will be a difficult task to complete but you can have fun doing it.
The Second Life project gives you the opportunity to show off how creative you can be.
The whole purpose of us doing the Second life project is to find a famous African American landmark and build a virtual world.
My expectation is that once we build this Second life virtual we will be able to explain our famous landmark in a creative way.

Rochelle Hamilton

Ms.Vernoca L.Michael

Ms.Michael was named one of the 2008 “Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania” may 2008 by the Business Journals of Pennsylvania. She was also the guest speaker for the Gettysburg NAACP first Annual Black Tie Dinner and also the guest speaker for the United States Mint in February 2007.In March.2008 Ms.Michael Judge for the Madame C.J Walker Award Luncheon. Ms.Michael purchased the blue horizon in 1994 as has carried on the grand tradition ever since at the 56,676 square foot site that seats 1200 for boxing. The Blue Horizon is a historic 1,500 seat boxing venue in the city Philadelphia. Lodge 54# located at 1312-1316 north broad street had over 20,000 members by 1920 at that point the highest membership of any fraternal lodge in the world. The Blue Horizon also appears in the film Rocky V and the movie Annapolis. The building was built in 1865 and was purchased by the Loyal of the Moose in 1912.On Dec.8,2000 the venue held its first world title fight when Charles Brewer defended his international boxing federation super middleweight crown.

Quote

“We have to recognize this world is global made up of people of all colors. If we are to succeed, we are going to have to work together”

Ms.Vernoca L. Michael

NiaKuumba
Nia[Nee-ah] "Purpose" Kuumba[Koo-m-Bah] "Creativity"

Field Trip Recap

Our first field trip down Broad Street to the historic landmarks and their marker was pretty interesting for many reasons. Our first visit was to “Progress Plaza” which is a mini mall where useful stores are such as different banks, places where you can purchase shoes and an upcoming market. But with the stores lies history in the plaza which we as African Americans should be informed about. The founder of “Progress Plaza “was a man named Leon Sullivan who was a reverend that was mentored by Philip A. Randolph. This plaza created jobs for African Americans during times of segregation which was a major step for black people. Dr. Leon Sullivan is greatly remembered for what he did and as being one of stepping blocks to black people's success. The other place that we visited is the ‘Legendary Blue Horizon” which was known for its boxing matches that were held there. Located on 1312-1316 North Broad Street and built in 1865 the ‘Blue horizon” is home to many great boxers such as Harold Johnson, Jeff Chandler, Matthew Saad Muhammad and many others who won countless world championships .While touring the building my group got a chance to meet the owner of the "Blue Horizon", Ms. Vernoca L. Michael, who gave us a brief history about the building and her importance she bring to the legendary building. In conclusion she was an outgoing lady who knows her history and got the chance to go to many places. She stresses the importance of following your dream and you can be what you want to be. The “Progress Plaza “was a very historic place that can inform you about a lot of things. Overall our field trip was educational because it answered the questions that we had about these places.

The Progress Plaza

Progress Plaza was constructed in 1968 by Progress Investment Association (PIA) under the direction of the late Rev. Leon Sullivan. The 65,000 square feet center is the nation’s oldest African-American-owned and developed shopping center.
Progress Plaza is an example of progress merely by its existence. It is the first African-American owned plaza of its kind. The current state of it, then, does not speak well for the viability of a supermarket in an inner-city area.

Progress Plaza is currently undergoing a 16-million dollar renovation. It will remain a centerpiece of pride in North Philadelphia. The plaza is soon to be anchored by a 42-thousand square feet Fresh Grocer.
Construction of the supermarket is part of a 16 million dollar project for the historic plaza; the nation’s first African-American owned shopping center.
There currently stand 9 stores and 2 banks at the progress plaza location. There are exciting times ahead as the renovation continues.
Progress on Progress Plaza’s development has been halted and delayed so often.
Despite several middle-class enclaves in the surrounding area, not to mention the purchasing power of Temple’s thousands of Main Campus students, construction continues to be delayed. The projected finish date of spring 2009 has been pushed back. Before that, another completion date was missed. Plans to bring the Fresh Grocer to fill the supermarket centerpiece space are in the works but have not come to fruition yet.

Major construction projects take time and, without incredibly efficient management, often face hiccups and delays.
The construction of the Fresh Grocer at Progress Plaza, located at 1501 N. Broad St., has been plagued by multiple delays.
We hope the planners of Progress Plaza’s overhaul will bear this in mind as they struggle to complete the project.
North Philadelphia can, and probably will, reward the planners’ efforts with steady profits. First, Progress Plaza needs its mangers to maintain persistence and push for completion.
For nearly a year, a poster with computer-graphic renderings of a redeveloped Progress Plaza has been on display, promoting the arrival of the Fresh Grocer, a 24-hour supermarket.
The Fresh Grocer will be built on the lot along Oxford Street, where there is currently one business still open.
The revitalization of Progress Plaza is sponsored by a three-way partnership that puts urban concerns first.
The Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which helps fund the development of grocery stores in deprived urban areas, will commit resources to the development of the Fresh Grocer in North Philadelphia. The supermarket has six locations in the surrounding areas.
The Fresh Grocer chain is not foreign to Philadelphia but will be new to this part of the city. The closest location at 40th and Walnut streets is accessible by subway routes.
After joining with the Food Trust, a private group working to reform eating habits in urban areas, and the Reinvestment Fund, plans were made to restructure the plaza.
There are also other businesses new to the plaza that may eventually move in but are still negotiating contracts with the shopping center’s management.
Delay in construction at Progress Plaza is noticeable.