Know My World is thrilled to announce our newest partnership with SEL in Taiwan, co-founded by Marissa Wu who will be joining our Know My World team as well. Marissa Wu is an M.Psych (Ed&Dev)/Ph.D. candidate at the University of Melbourne (graduating soon in early 2021). Her research interests are in the field of social-emotional learning (SEL) and development, focusing on early preventive intervention, intervention science, minorities, and cross-cultural studies. Marissa completed a Master in Educational Psychology in both Taiwan and the United States. She also holds B.Ed in Early Childhood Education from Auckland University in New Zealand. She has worked as an early childhood educator for many years in New Zealand and is currently a registered child and adolescent psychologist in Melbourne, Australia. Marissa recently founded a Facebook page called “SEL in Taiwan”; the page is created to promote and advocate for SEL practices in Taiwan. Currently, Marissa is in Taiwan giving talks and lecturing on SEL in kindergartens, schools, and universities. Her biggest passion is helping others, learning about different cultures, and meeting new people. We look forward to co-developing some amazing new programs and resource guides together. You can find her Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/SELinTaiwan.
We are also so excited to partner with MangaX Technology and collaborate on the development of some incredible classroom resources using AI Technology. Dr. Joe Huang is the co-founder and CEO of MangaX Technology, a Taiwan-based EdTech company focusing on social-emotional learning (SEL). He received his Ph.D., MS, and BS degrees in Computer Science and Engineering Informatics from National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan. He was an assistant professor from 2006 to 2016, in medical informatics at Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. As he taught computer programming and worked on projects supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, he realizes how emotions can affect learning and how counseling can help in teaching. At the age of 40, he decided to step out of his comfort zone and established MangaX Technology, which aims to universalize SEL by developing gamified technology based on AI and AR. MangaX Technology created the MangaChat platform, an online journaling platform with comics for K-12 students, as a resource to help educators and counselors facilitate the implementation of SEL. The platform transforms psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT) into manageable steps of art creation so that users actually experience psychotherapy for themselves as they journal their responses and create a visual representation through their comic. Additional information can be found at the official website MangaX Technology – Welcome to MangaChat and the Chat Platform MangaChat.
We are also so excited to have Jabari Smith joining us as a new board member. Jabari and I met and became friends in Japan 12 years ago. Since then he has gone on to do a lot of amazing and inspirational work around the world. We are so glad he is joining us. Jabari Smith is an International Orator, TV Host, Intercultural Facilitator, Social Entrepreneur, Leadership Coach, and – with over 25 countries under his belt – a Global Citizen. He is a proud native of New Orleans, Louisiana on a mission to uplift and inspire lives across the globe while serving as a mentor and advocate for youth, young professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs via his company Jabari Inspires: Motivational Speaking & Global Citizenship Consulting. Jabari strongly believes that everyone should live out their purpose and promotes “dream catching” through motivational talks, coaching, and media appearances. Jabari has carried out a decade of intercultural leadership work across education & training, media, and social entrepreneurship sectors. Upon completion of his B.A. in Broadcast Journalism at Howard University, where he served as an Undergraduate Trustee, Jabari launched his global career as an English Language Instructor with the Japan Exchange & Teaching Program in Fujisaki, Japan. Since then, he has led youth outreach efforts for the Obama/Biden presidential re-election campaign, served as the host/co-producer of his own travel & culture TV series (Jabari Inspires) in Nairobi, Kenya, and facilitated experiential leadership and service-learning trips for youth throughout the U.S. with Pathways in Education. Now, currently based in Chicago, Jabari serves as a Program Manager with WorldChicago, a citizen diplomacy organization through which he leads the development and implementation of U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Programs that bring emerging leaders and entrepreneurs from across the world to Chicago. Passionately walking in his purpose, Jabari confidently believes that “the BEST is yet to come…”