The Entertainment Software Association and Hispanic Heritage Foundation's Leader's on the Fast Track (LOFT) Program are partnering to offer a Gaming Innovation Fellowship. 20 Applicants ages 16-24 who submit games and game designs that address a social issue will be selected as Gaming Innovation Fellows.

1. 2013 ESA LOFT
Gaming Innovation Program
Identifying top
gaming innovators for good
June 2013

2. LOFT is a workforce initiative of
HHF focused on priority fields
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) is an award-winning nonprofit
which identifies, inspires, prepares and positions Latino leaders in the
classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities with
a focus on innovation. Through innovation and technology, HHF believes
Latino youth are leaders of today not tomorrow.
Leaders On Fast Track (LOFT) is the workforce development program of
HHF focused on “priority fields” including
science, technology, engineering, math, education, entrepreneurship, fi
nance, public policy, law and other areas. Tens of thousands of students
and young professionals (aged 16-35 years old) are connected to each
other and provided with over 30 trainings, priority-field-tailored
symposia, workshops, and Charlas. Hundreds are also placed into
internships, mentorships, fellowships and full-time positions with
Fortune 100 companies and government agencies.
Hispanic
Heritage
Foundation
Leaders On
Fast Track
Background

3. The LOFT Innovation Track executes events and
talent sourcing year-round
The mission of the LOFT Innovation Track is to identify, prepare, and place
technically talented under-represented minorities (URMs) in the workforce
Educational and
technical events
Coding boot-camps and hack-a-thons
Innovation Symposiums
Online trainings and mentorship
Talent sourcing
Identification of technically talented
Latinos, Blacks and Women
Relationship management
Placement into all levels of technical
positions
Background

4. ESA LOFT Fellowship will serve as platform for
top minority game developers
The ESA LOFT Gaming Innovation
Fellowship will
1) encourage underrepresented
minorities to advance in careers
within the video gaming industry and
2) actively challenge youth to identify
and make change through
technology
By identifying and promoting the top 20
Latino and African American young
innovators (16-24 years old) who can
create video games that will focus on
new, technology-based approaches to
address local and global social issues.
ESA and LOFT will provide the
platform for these young game
developers to display to the
White House, U.S.
Congress, educational
community, media, and the
rest of our nation’s leaders that
young people can develop
innovative gaming design to
address social issues and
create change on their own
terms
Fellowship Program

5. 20 Gaming Innovation Fellows to be recognized
in Washington, DC
20 Gaming Innovation Fellows will be 1) awarded a $1,000 innovation grant to
continue working on their video game and 2) participate in an all-expense-
paid trip to Washington, DC where they will:
– be recognized for their accomplishments and present their games
– meet with White House and U.S. Congressional representatives, ESA
members, U.S. Army Cyber Command, and other leaders/influencers
– provide interviews for local and national media
– participate in CBC and CHC activities
Fellowship Program
The launch of the national outreach program and public affairs campaign will
raise visibility for ESA, HHF/LOFT and our partners. Fellows will apply through
the LOFT Innovation Track website www.loftinnovation.org. All applicants will
also have the opportunity to join http://loftnetwork.org, a social network for
minority leaders for ongoing interaction and community building.