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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.19.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Rebuilding Lives_ Local Innovation in Mental Health & Housing Education.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. From:Clerk of the Board To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Rebuilding Lives: Local Innovation in Mental Health & Housing Education Date:Monday, April 21, 2025 3:33:59 PM Attachments:community advocacy and resource center.docx Instructions to Students for post-game survey.pdf Please see Board Correspondence - From: Micki Archuleta <micki@dolphinvoyager.com> Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2025 12:09 AM To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net> Subject: Rebuilding Lives: Local Innovation in Mental Health & Housing Education Dear Members of the Board, My name is Micki Archuleta, PhD, MA, MEd (2025). I am a part-time faculty member at Modesto Junior College and the founder of Dolphin Voyager, LLC. As a native resident of Merced County, I am committed to advancing local innovation that addresses the intersection of mental health, homelessness, and community engagement. To that end, I have developed Rebuilding Lives, an educational video game and research- based instructional module currently in use with my students. The game presents youth with choices and scenarios that mirror real-world challenges in housing, mental health access, and system navigation. It is supported by post-game surveys to evaluate impact and foster measurable outcomes. A proposal for a broader Community Advocacy and Resource Center has been submitted to the Merced Community Foundation and is included here for your review. My hope is that Butte County can continue to lead by example in finding holistic, educationally grounded ways to address the overlapping issues of wellness, housing, and civic participation. I would be honored to present Rebuilding Lives to your board or designated staff and explore potential avenues for support or strategic alignment. Sincerely, Micki Archuleta Founder, Dolphin Voyager, LLC Part-Time Faculty, Modesto Junior College 209-489-7356 ✉️ micki@dolphinvoyager.com dolphinvoyager.com | dolphinvoyageracademic.com DRAFT PROPOSAL: Community Advocacy and Resource Center Submitted to: Stephanie Dietz Chief Executive Officer Community Foundation of Merced County P.O. Box 3846 Merced, CA 95344 Submitted by: Micki Archuleta Founder, Dolphin Voyager, LLC Part-Time Faculty, Modesto Junior College 209-489-7356 micki@dolphinvoyager.com Date: April 17, 2025 ________________________________ Executive Summary The Community Advocacy and Resource Center is a proposed initiative designed to foster civic engagement, digital equity, wellness, and educational empowerment. Rooted in principles of social justice, mental health advocacy, and community-driven change, the Center will serve as a physical hub for organizing, learning, healing, and action. It integrates the Rebuilding Lives educational game—developed to engage students and the public around mental health, homelessness, and systemic care challenges. ________________________________ Key Features Advocacy Planning Lounge: A flexible space for coalition-building, workshops, and strategy. Technology Access: Laptop lending stations with secured lockers and Wi-Fi. Research & Reflection Areas: Inclusive zones with ergonomic design for focused work and neurodivergent-friendly options. Wellness Spaces: Quiet, restorative areas centered on emotional health and balance. Educational Staff & Trainers: On-site professionals to guide workshops in advocacy, civic literacy, and policy impact. School Outreach Programs: Engaging students in real-world advocacy through curriculum- integrated partnerships. Integration of Rebuilding Lives Game: A scenario-based, research-informed game exploring issues of care, housing, and community resilience. ________________________________ Goals Cultivate community engagement by offering tools and space for organizing. Bridge the digital divide through reliable access to devices and connectivity. Promote inclusive learning environments for underserved populations. Normalize and support mental health and wellness through design and programming. Forge school partnerships that center youth in advocacy and system-change. License and deploy the Rebuilding Lives game for education and outreach. ________________________________ Budget Overview Item/Amount Space Renovation and Furnishing $30,000 Technology Acquisition (Laptops, Charging) $25,000 Staff Training and Development $10,000 Program Development and Materials $5,000 Marketing and Community Outreach $2,000 Educational Staff and Trainers $20,000 School Outreach Programs $15,000 Game Development (Coding) $30,000 Animation and Voice Acting $25,000 Licensing and Distribution of Educational Game $5,000 Contingency Fund $5,000 Total Requested $172,000 ________________________________ Sustainability & Impact The Center will be operated under the Rebuilding Lives Foundation, with program implementation and educational delivery supported by Dolphin Voyager, LLC. This hybrid structure enables scalability, compliance with nonprofit guidelines, and long-term sustainability through strategic licensing and earned income from educational tools. Anticipated outcomes include: Greater community participation in advocacy efforts. Expanded digital access and empowerment. Stronger mental health and wellness resources. Sustainable educational partnerships. Scalable models for replication across counties. ________________________________ Licensing & Ownership Ownership: Dolphin Voyager, LLC retains full intellectual property rights over Rebuilding Lives. Nonprofit License: A royalty-free license is extended to the Foundation for educational and advocacy use. Commercial License: Available to institutions and schools at accessible rates (e.g., $5/school license or $12/web-based license), supporting the LLC’s operational viability. ________________________________ Conclusion This proposal is both local and scalable. It centers Merced while offering a template for community advocacy that could shift the national landscape. If you're interested in discussing how your work might intersect with this effort—or how we might build something transformative together—I’d love to talk further. Warmly, Micki Archuleta Founder, Dolphin Voyager, LLC Part-Time Faculty, Modesto Junior College 209-489-7356 micki@dolphinvoyager.com Instructions to Students: Please rate each statement using the following scale (1–5): 1 = False | 2 = Mostly False | 3 = Neutral | 4 = Mostly True | 5 = True Type your answers in numbered order (e.g., 1. 4, 2. 5, etc.). Then, answer the open-ended questions at the end. Likert Scale (1–5) Core Module – While playing the game: 1. I was interested in the game’s story. 2. I felt competent. 3. It felt like a rich experience. 4. I felt happy. 5. I was fully occupied with the game. 6. I lost track of time. 7. I felt content. 8. I was deeply concentrated in the game. Post-Game Module – After playing the game: 9. I felt revived. 10. I felt satisfied. 11. I felt proud. 12. I felt motivated to complete tasks and challenges in the game. 13. The storyline was engaging and kept my attention throughout the gameplay. 14. I would recommend this game to others interested in learning about houselessness. 15. I forgot everything around me. 16. I felt frustrated. 17. I found it tiresome. 18. I felt irritable. 19. It felt like a victory. 20. I had a sense that I had returned from a journey. In-Game Module – After the game: 21. I felt skillful. 22. I felt completely absorbed. 23. I found the game’s interface intuitive and easy to navigate. 24. I needed additional help or instructions to understand how to interact with the game. (Reverse scored) 25. I could quickly locate all the features necessary to complete tasks within the game. 26. It was aesthetically pleasing. 27. I found it impressive. 28. I felt challenged. Social Presence Module: 29. I empathized with the other(s). 30. My actions depended on the other(s) actions. 31. I felt connected to the other(s). 32. What I did affected what the other(s) did. 33. When the other(s) were happy, I was happy. 34. I admired the other(s). Short Response Questions – Game Log Info 35. Approximately how much time did you spend completing Scene 3 (Interaction with Shelter Staff)? (Answer in minutes.) 36. How many times did you choose empathy-driven dialogue options in Scene 3? 37. How many times did you choose bureaucratic dialogue options in Scene 3? 38. In Scene 4, how did you allocate resources? Please enter approximate percentages for each: - Housing: ___% - Safety: ___% - Social Services: ___% Open-Ended Questions 35. How did interacting with Non Player Characters (NPCs) influence your understanding of houselessness as a systemic issue? 36. What elements of the game’s narrative or visuals stood out to you the most, and why? 37. Were there moments in the game where you felt particularly connected to the challenges faced by the characters? 38. What specific moments in the game helped you better understand the challenges of resource allocation? 39. Did you encounter any difficulties navigating the game? If so, how did it affect your experience? 40. How do you think the game could better support learning about community support systems? 41. Reflect on your experience playing the Rebuilding Lives prototype. How did the game influence your understanding of houselessness and the role of community support systems? Were there any specific interactions or decisions that stood out to you emotionally or intellectually?