Ruth Diaz, Psy.D.

Join us for the November BridgeMakers Leadership Summit on 📅 11/16 @ 6 PM ET!
This is a special workshop with Merivio (game dev) and DJCarson (environmental storyteller) on spaces that guide attention, movement, and emotion. #VRCademicSky #VirtualReality

RSVP here: discord.gg/5dYayn9pvj

This is a promotional image for the Virtually Impossible Premiere hosted by BridgeMakers on Sunday, November 9th at 1PM Eastern US time.

OpenMind, a mindful, Quest-friendly VR community, is featured in Virtually Impossible premiering this Sunday, 11/9 🌐💫
A space for reflection, grounding, and growth in social VR.
🗓️ World + Doc Premiere | 1 PM Eastern US Time
RSVP: discord.gg/Pb2nhYPR

#SocialVR #FilmSky #Mindfulness

This is a promotional image for the Virtually Impossible Premiere hosted by BridgeMakers on Sunday, November 9th at 1PM Eastern US time.

🎥 Virtually Impossible — World + Documentary Premiere 🌐💫
“In under a month, we co-built a world that feels culture-shifting in #socialVR!” — @humanonpurpose.bsky.social
🗓️ 11/9 at 1PM Eastern | 🎙️ Panel w/ Director Peco & team
🌍 Questies welcome! | 🎧 Live + recorded
RSVP Here → discord.gg/Pb2nhYPR

Creating for the Human: How World Design Sparks Meaningful Connections in Virtual Reality Despite a toxic exterior, social spaces in virtual reality are capable of many beautiful things. Through creating worlds for VRChat, I learnt that the design of these spaces has a far stronger impa…

Another essay, this time on what I've learnt from making many worlds for VRChat: their designs impact people's behavior in ways far stronger than I ever expected.

VR is an escape to a better world, here's how world design could help keep it better!

evalkafox.wordpress.com/2025/10/04/c...

How “Remember the Human” Applies in the Virtual World Social VR is well known as a drama-filled and toxic space, despite the amazing experiences that come with it. This short rant-essay, built off of my own experiences, helps to explain factors I beli…

I've been through a lot in my time on VRChat, making many mistakes and doing my best to learn from them but finding it difficult.

I thought to condense what this taught me about social VR into something I think is worth reading. Let me know your thoughts!

evalkafox.wordpress.com/remember-the...

This is a poster of a show called Firefly. The BridgeMakers Firefly VR series explores the 'Verse with weekly talks & discussions in a custom VR world. Meet fellow fans, share theories, and relive the magic. Limited tickets—don't miss out!

🪐 Be part of the adventure! The BridgeMakers Firefly VR series, beginning 8/28 at 9PM ET, explores the ‘Verse with weekly talks & discussions in a custom VR world. Meet fellow fans, share theories, and relive the magic. Limited tickets—don’t miss out!

#firefly #filmsky
🗣️: discord.gg/xX5M5D7ByX

Currently filled with overwhelming love and warmth. Thank you to everyone who was able to make the Bridgemakers Anniversary Summit possible and for sharing your heartfelt stories :’) #bridgemakers #vrchat #virtualreality #humanity #connection

After weeks of effort from @armanixr.com and @simulatedbeing.bsky.social , we are at #PJKTFEST25 by @projektcommunity.com ! Huge congrats to them on this achievement and a big thank you to @emmatorch.bsky.social for helping throughout the process! Come visit our booth today!
vrc.group/PJKT.3741

PJKT: FEST 2025 Schedule & Notices! 🎉

Thanks to all for your patience! Let's make this year's PJKT: FEST awesome!

#PJKTFEST25 #VRChat #festival

We tend not to realize that we've decided our own facts based upon the way we originally view things. In failing to convince someone to think our way, we may think of them as amoral. How do we manage this online? Sign up for
@venialogan.bsky.social 's course to learn more! scms.me/vr-discourse...

Divisiveness can shape our interactions with another person on a computer elsewhere. The time/energy we spend doing that really influences how we interact with our own communities. How do we manage that?

Watch and sign up for @venialogan.bsky.social 's course to learn more! scms.me/vr-discourse...

With only a week left to register, here is an informative message about our new Deliberative Diplomats course from course teacher @venialogan.bsky.social ! Feel free to share with any digital leaders you know trying to navigate tough problems. #VRCademicSky #CivilDiscourse

scms.me/vr-discourse...

This is a cartoon image of social media platforms depicted as people. The internet as we know it today forces us into isolation while promising us belonging. How can we still maintain healthy communication when our conflicting values disagree? In our new course starting on June 21st we will explore this embrace of conflict.

The internet as we know it today forces us into isolation while promising us belonging. How can we still maintain healthy communication when our conflicting values disagree? In our new course starting on June 21st we will explore this embrace of conflict: scms.me/vr-discourse...

#VirtualReality

🛠️Let's build a bridge between @bridgemakers.bsky.social to @projektcommunity.com 🌉
Hope to see you at the Fest this year! These are the builders that help you develop the skills to lead your groups!
#pjkt2025 #pjkt #VRChat
👇Links to the discord and VRC Group in the comments!👇

Reminder: On 5/18 at 6PM ET we hold our monthly leadership meetup! This event is a real-talk moment about things that challenge us as community leaders, moderators, or potential leaders & what to do. This month's topic is Building Community Through Avatar Fluency! 🎭 #VRChat

🗣️: discord.gg/6wuXS9nHfV

This is an image from a previous leadership summit by BridgeMakers, held in VRChat.

On May 18th at 6PM ET, we holding our monthly leadership meetup! This event is a real-talk moment about things that challenge us as community leaders, moderators, or potential leaders and what to do. This month's topic is Building Community Through Avatar Fluency! 🎭

🗣️: discord.gg/6wuXS9nHfV

All Things In Moderation 2025 The global gathering for humans who moderate

We're excited to share that our very own @humanonpurpose.bsky.social will be a speaker at the All Things in Moderation conference this week! ❤️💜💙 Feel free to visit the link below for more information. #Moderation #ThirdSpaces #VRCademicSky

events.zoom.us/ev/Amk8BB1Z0...

Today at 5:30pm Eastern time, we are excited to join @tajasuka.bsky.social on a journey through his awesome worlds in social VR to learn more about how they are designed! ❤️💜💙 Until then, feel free to join us on #Discord ahead of time: discord.gg/VTrRRkDjTj

#SocialVR #VRCademicSky #VRChat #design

This is an image of the following questions in ascending order for the Street Epistemology activity. 3. Religion should always have a place in society. 2. The world needs violent video games. 1. If there is no oncoming traffic, it is okay to turn left at a red arrow light.

This week at BridgeMakers, we gathered again for one of our most unique exercises: a Street Epistemology Spectrum event. Each time we do this, we step into a practice space — one where playfulness, seriousness, humility, and fire all get to coexist. We are not here to “win” arguments. We are here to stretch, to listen, and to remember each other’s humanity across even the most complex or heated topics.

We recently held our Street Epistemology meetup to practice civil discourse on disagreeable things. Linked below is a reflection on this practice.

Feel free to join us on #Discord and then #VRChat for this event and more! #CivilDiscourse
🗣️: discord.gg/VTrRRkDjTj

bridgemakers.world/2025/04/27/p...

a black and white drawing of a stick figure with the word hmm on the bottom right Alt: a black and white drawing of a stick figure with the word hmm on the bottom right

Clarity is only cruel to people who benefit from confusion.
- ChatGPT

Do you agree?

WATCH: Learning Virtual World Community Building Lessons from Palia, the Popular Cozy MMO After blogging about Palia's design mechanics for growing community earlier this month, and Dr. Ruth Diaz's thoughts on them, I got a chance to join Ruth on an embedded journey into Palia. Watch our t...

Digging how much @playpalia.com designs community building and cooperation into its gameplay.

Watch me explore the world with @humanonpurpose.bsky.social as we play with the Palia features that open non-MMO virtual worlds should learn about and emulate! 👇

nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2025/04/...

Playing Together YouTube video by Bridge Makers

On Monday, April 14th at 5PM EDT (U.S.), @humanonpurpose.bsky.social and @slhamlet.bsky.social will explore the cozy multiplayer game @playpalia.com and how its design encourages collaboration and community care.
#Palia #PlayPalia #community #inclusive

Watch here:
📺: youtube.com/live/cyh2dT4...

Weather the Storm: A Life-Saving VR Simulation from Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems. — UGA x CACHE Weather the Storm is an immersive virtual reality experience designed by UGA's CACHE with support from NOAA to help coastal residents understand the true dangers of hurricanes.

The VR experience and education materials can be downloaded here: www.ugavr.com/weatherthest...

YouTube video by thecrazynick92 Inception Soundtrack-Dream is Collapsing (Hans Zimmer)

For Music HOP 8 out of 10 on 3/26 at 9PM EDT, we'll explore how we resonate together and separately with songs about terror as this week's theme. 🔥❤️💜💙 #VRChat #VRCademicSky #music #emotion

📺: www.youtube.com/watch?v=imam...
🗣️: discord.gg/6wuXS9nHfV

YouTube video by Metaverse Degen AstroRabbit Is an Admin for StemVR in VRChat and Astronomer!

This episode of Metaverse Degen features AstroRabbit, an admin for STEM VR in VRChat and an astronomer specializing in galactic archaeology. AstroRabbit shares his journey into VRChat during the pandemic, his role in building STEM VR as a community for science enthusiasts.
youtu.be/5adxQd57R14

VRChat friends, I know a lot of us come to the virtual world for healing, escape, and positivity, but the truth is that we have a duty to embrace our gifts and give back to the world by becoming politically aware.

We are an incredibly powerful species and we can make a huge impact on the world.

This Sunday, 3/23 at 4PM EDT we hold our next Street Epistemology event! Reminder: This is not a debate, instead it's about practicing civil discourse on disagreeable things. Feel free to join us on Discord and then VRChat for this event and more!

This Sunday, 3/23 at 4PM EDT we hold our next Street Epistemology event! Reminder: This is not a debate, instead it's about practicing civil discourse on disagreeable things. Feel free to join us on #Discord and then #VRChat for this event and more! #Debate #CivilDiscourse

🗣️: discord.gg/6wuXS9nHfV

YouTube video by Muse Muse - WON'T STAND DOWN (Official Video)

(🧵1/2) Here are a few of our upcoming events. Join us on Discord to participate:
-Music HOP on 3/19 at 9PM EDT: In this event we'll explore how we resonate together with songs about rage as this week's theme. 🔥💙 #VRChat #VRCademicSky

📺: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d55E...
🗣️: discord.gg/6wuXS9nHfV

Civil Discourse in Social VR: In part 3 of this course on 3/19 at 6PM EDT, we explore what civil discourse is and how to effectively build favorable environments for it.

(🧵2/2) -Civil Discourse in Social VR: In part 3 of this course on 3/19 at 6PM EDT, we explore what civil discourse is and how to effectively build favorable environments for it. #VRChat #VRCademicSky ♥️💜💙

🗣️: discord.gg/6wuXS9nHfV

Image detailing the 3 areas of discussions for Sunday's Street Epistemology event. 1. Wokism killed DEI. 2. VR is a drug. 1. Star Wars is better than Star Trek.

Join us for Sunday's BridgeMakers Street Epistemology Event! Please RSVP by tomorrow to secure your spot!

Join BridgeMakers to RSVP and vote! → discord.gg/JSMBPdaV

#BridgeMakers #VREpistemology