Imagine being able to experience history from a new perspective while being transported back in time using virtual reality. Dontrese Brown, David Waltenbaugh and Dean Browell are breaking boundaries by exploring sites in Richmond, Virginia that have been overlooked. They are telling the story of the Black experience throughout history and bringing the stories to life using virtual reality. David Waltenbaugh believes that virtual reality is the “ultimate empathy machine” that transports viewers into a new mindset. In this podcast, listeners will hear how this project was started, what it means, and what it can do for education in this country.
About our guests: Dontrese Brown: Dontrese is relentless in his pursuit of helping others maximize their potential. His commitment to transformational leadership and serving the youth of our communities is the driving force that inspires all those around him. A remarkable communicator and influencer, he fosters a culture of excellence through a compelling vision of respect, integrity, and empowerment. Dontrese has led various teams from a creative and professional development perspective throughout his career. He is passionate about brand and the business of design, building empathetic narratives, and advancing racial equity through social justice instigation. A sought-after speaker on design, strategic leadership, and aligning purpose with passion, currently Dontrese is co-founder of BROWNBAYLOR™, a creative strategy and marketing agency, Executive Director of the EDGE Center for Career Development at Randolph-Macon College, and earned graphic design degrees from Georgetown College (B.F.A.), Morehead State University (M.A.), and Savannah College of Art & Design (M.F.A.). dontrese@brownbaylor.com
David Waltenbaugh is a cofounder of Hidden In Plain Site, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the future of cultural education with an immersive technology platform allowing historically underrepresented communities to tell their stories in authentic, engaging, and incredibly powerful new ways. His experience in immersive media production for virtual reality applications in education, healthcare, and entertainment has taken him around the world and includes production and development of 360 video, spatial audio, and interactive virtual reality experiences and platforms. david@hiddeninplainsite.org
Dean Browell leads Feedback’s research as the resident PhD with a passion for how generations interact online. He is a Board Member of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD), The Poe Museum, and University of Richmond’s Institute on Philanthropy and teaches at the VCU School of Business. dean@discoverfeedback.com
For more information:
Hidden In Plain Site https://www.hiddeninplainsite.org
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hidden-in-plain-site/