CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE FOUNDER OF GATHERVERSE
We’re very honored to interview globally recognized, CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE for our “Flying Into The Metaverse Through Books & Culture” series. Greetings from Florence, Italy.
Christopher Lafayette, Founder of GATHERVERSE and humanitarian, a year ago was one of our main guests for AWE Nite Florence “Building the Future of XR, Together”.
One year later he is now the leading global protagonist of the Humanity-First approach to the metaverse. We’re so happy to have him and the GatherVerse community. Watch and experience ARea6DoF’s FLYING INTO THE METAVERSE THROUGH BOOKS & CULTURE.
THE BEGINNING
I met Christopher Lafayette online, in January 2020. He had started a blog called “Immersive Directory” and had written a post on LinkedIn with a “Call to action”, that giving the possibility for people around the world to write an article in the technology sector and to publish it on his blog. His motto was:
My journey as a aspiring journalist in the XR sector had started a few months before (I was in Munich to AWE EU in october 2019) and I accepted the challenge of writing this article that I called “The evolution of culture, through the XR World” and that you still find online, for his blog that was based in Silicon Valley. It was really exciting!
I really didn’t think that in just over a year I would physically go to California for my first time and return there only after a few months. But above all that I could have known Christopher personally!
With Christopher, it was the beginning of a long and sincere friendship.
WHAT IS CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE DOING SO IMPORTANT IN THE XR WORLD?
Christopher Lafayette lives in Silicon Valley and when we went to visit him a few weeks ago (in June, after AWE USA 2022), he dedicated part of his time to show us some places he loved and tell us about his story and the things he is working on.
The interview was made in a place very dear to Christopher along the California coast, facing the Pacific Ocean. He told me about his new path as Founder of GatherVerse in a truly out of the ordinary and very interesting interview.
“Flying Into The Metaverse Through Books & Culture” is welcomes CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE, Founder of GatherVerse:
Found below the key points of the interview:
0:00:00 – Opening Theme
0:00:08 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI: “Opening the interview”
0:00:15 – CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE: “Welcome”
0:00:16 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI: “Welcome”
0:00:21 – CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE: “Who I am?”
0:00:28 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI: “Presentation Christopher Lafayette”
0:01:16 – CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE: “AWE 2022”
0:01:45 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI: “Who is Christopher Lafayette?”
0:02:14 – CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE: “Founder of GatherVerse”
0:02:48 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI: “Build with me. Build Together.”
0:03:09 – CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE: “Humanity First”
0:04:11 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI: “Respect first of all. Professionalism immediately after.”
0:04:37 – CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE: “GatherVerse”
0:17:45 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI “Thanks to Christopher Lafayette”
0:18:16 – CECILIA LASCIALFARI “Who I am?”
0:18:40 – Closing Theme – “Become sponsor of the “Flying Into The Metaverse Through Books & Culture”
GATHERVERSE – HUMANITY FIRST
GATHERVERSE joins the project “Flying Into The Metaverse Through Books & Culture” with great enthusiasm and incorporates information about the project into its newsletters.
Launched in 2021, GatherVerse gathering earth’s communities to add collective values to the Metaverse. GatherVerse is a Global Ecosystem where communities gather, discuss, document and share human centered approaches to the Metaverse. Where all technical and non technical industries are welcomed and have a voice. Where a series of events year round and an Annual Summit assembling thought leaders, multi-industry professionals and practitioners to share their ideas collectively on how they view a humanity-first approached metaverse. A growing community of thousands that we hope you share with others. GatherVerse mission is to bring the metaverse into a clearer, humanity centered view.
Accessibility, Education, Equality, Community Development, Safety and Privacy, Wellness.
2nd ANNUAL GATHERVERSE SUMMIT 2023: THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE COMING METAVERSE
“Introducing our annual GatherVerse Summit, a 3 day long global event for interested communities to gather, consider, propose, document and share human centered approaches to the much discussed metaverse.
A distinguished roster of nearly 175+ speakers from government, academia, industry and more will present keynotes, talks and roundtables during the summit. These include thought leaders from the ranks of designers, producers, authors, advisors, podcasters, public policy advocates, researchers, security specialists, filmmakers, education experts, futurists, wellness practitioners and global community leaders looking to add real human value to technologies that connect us.
Humanity-first is the overarching theme of Gatherverse. Key topics include accessibility education, equality, building vibrant communities, wellness, and safety and privacy concerns.
Hear from global experts as they collectively define the Metaverse, its elements and the importance of a “Humanity first” approach towards building it.” by Christopher Lafayette
THE NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH GATHERVERSE:
19th July 2022 there will be MMM (Music Meets Metaverse Summit)
13th-14th September 2022 there will be 3WE (a Web3 Summit)
20th – 21th September there will be GatherVerse EU Summit
28th September 2022 – there will be GatherVerse Latin Summit
12th October 2022 – there will be Virtual World Symposium
18 October 2022 – there will be LGS (Legal & Governance Summit)
15th November 2022 – there will be AIM (Athletics in the Metaverse)
BIOGRAPHY CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE
Christopher Lafayette is an Emergent Technologist, Architect, International Speaker, which in a few years has become an international reference point for “Black” people and for all minorities who work in the technology sector. His movement has grown like a wave that surfers ride in Mavericks or Santa Cruz in California, and he’s been riding it for years, growing his community and the initiatives that revolve around him.
He is working for a more equitable culture in technology serving as a Silicon Valley national and international speaker, thought leader and advocate for greater expansion of community in technology that includes cross culture and inclusion considerations.
I remember when I received his first messages in the LinkedIn mail, personal messages that Christopher sent and continues to send accurately and professionally to his contacts.
“Build with me. Build Together.” became in his words a motto, the keyword of a close network of professionals who, in addition to technology, had the sensitivity to recognize their human beings.
Greetings Cecilia, As you now know, I’ve launched a new Blog Series for the Immersive Directory.
The directory itself gets massive traffic and is a great resource for those in-and-outside of the XR arena. I’m inviting you and other builders, drivers and leaders to write about your current perspective and take on Immersive Technology. There are many narratives within the industry to write about – the choice is fully yours. People are wanting to hear from you. Please confirm as soon as possible.
What an immense pleasure it was to be invited to participate personally in this community!
His blog “Immersive Directory” has really had many views and after that experience Christopher has given birth to many other initiatives:
– Creator of Humanitarian in Jan 2007 of a brand that promotes technology, culture and community.
– Founder of Immersive Directory from Jan 2018 (Silicon Valley, California, USA)
A global directory of immersive platforms from hardware, software, content, storytellers, creatives and more.
– Founder of HoloPractice from May 2019 (Silicon Valley, California, USA)
A private incubator of technologists and health & wellness professionals building experiential platforms in MedTech.
– Founder of The Black Technology Mentorship Program from Jun 2020 (Silicon Valley, California, USA). A mentor mentee program that inspires, educates, and brings underserved Black communities into technology. As the Founder he is creating entrepreneurs and professionals of tomorrow through proper incubation and acceleration, career path and apprenticeship. They’re creating learning environments that encourage exploration, discovery, career paths and entrepreneurship through last mile fulfillment.
– Co-Founder Hip Hop Coins from Jan 2021 (Silicon Valley, California, USA) – The next step in the evolution of Hip Hop Culture. The Pairing of NFTs + The Metaverse – a Web3 Platform.
– Broadcaster with The Christopher Lafayette Podcast from Sep 2021 (Silicon Valley, California, USA). A podcast for discussions on intriguing people, technology, business, startups, causes, music, sports and culture.
– Member Board Of Directors of Virtual World Society from February 2021 (Seattle, Washington, USA). A no-profit organization building a community of creators to explore the potential for immersive technology to make a positive impact, that collaborates with organizations to explore how technology can positively impact schools, families, and communities.
– Advisory Council Member of AWE (Augmented World Expo) from May 2021, the community that is committed to the goal of a $ 1 trillion XR industry by 2030, while ensuring that the result is a world worth living in.
– Founder of GatherVerse and GatherVerse Summit from Nov 2021, a global virtual gathering discussing humanity first standards of education, safety, privacy, wellness, community development and accessibility in the next steps of the metaverse.
In 2021 Christopher founded the “GatherVerse” community which today spans the whole world.
Christopher has extensive history in media production and has worked with and advised companies and organizations such as Google, Facebook, NFL, Merlin Entertainments, NBA, Linux Foundation, Microsoft, Salesforce, Verizon, Stanford University, Duke University, San Jose College of Engineering, UCLA along with renowned chefs, musicians and hundreds of startups in emerging technologies.
He’s executed and managed digital business brand initiatives for numerous campaigns and internal technology projects. He is an expert in lab-to-market acceleration and entrepreneurial development.
He’s prototyped coworking spaces and holodecks.
AWE 2022: “HUMANITY FIRST APPROACH TO BUILDING THE METAVERSE” by CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE and DR. MUHSINAH MORRIS
During AWE 2022 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California, Christopher Lafayette took the stage with Dr. Muhsinah Morris (Director of Virtual Reality Project at Morehouse College | Former Interim Department Chair, Chemistry | Assistant Professor, Education, Morehouse Center for Excellence in Education) and gave the speech “Humanity First Approach to Building the Metaverse”.
“As the Metaverse continues to grow, it’s essential that we discuss the development of a humanity-first approach in regards to standards of education, accessibility, safety, privacy, wellness, equality and community development.“
Dr. Muhsinah Morris and Christopher Lafayette as shared ideas gleaned from the GatherVerse community as well as the greater tech community with a focus on global communities for the Metaverse.
Below you can see the video footage, live from the main stage, on the first day of AWE 2022.
HOW CONTACT CHRISTOPHER LAFAYETTE
Personal Website: https://www.christopherlafayette.com
Email: Chris@christopherlafayette.com
Twitter: vrleader
Virtual World Society: Christopher Lafayette
Augmented World Expo: Christopher Lafayette
HOW TO JOIN GATHERVERSE
Instagram GatherVerse: GatherVerse
Facebook GatherVerse: GatherVerse
Twitter GatherVerse: GatherVerse
LinkedIn GatherVerse: GatherVerse
YouTube GatherVerse: GatherVerse
I have to thanks Christopher Lafayette, who I met in California just a few weeks ago, for helping me figure out the right direction to take.
Cecilia is also an artist, photographer, videomaker, community manager and International Journalist. She is the organizer of AWE Nite Florence and she is the Italian Representative for Artivive.
Cecilia is a member of the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence (AIxIA is a member of the EurAI/ECCAI) which includes professionals from the most important research institutions and Italian universities.
Cecilia created a project called “Flying Into The Metaverse Through Books & Culture”, which is a series of interviews with the most important professionals in the XR field and manages an online Journal called ARea6DoF, registered to the Italian Court, where she writes the articles about the different topics she is concerned with.