We were lucky to catch up with Jordyn Barber recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jordyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

The idea for The Greenprint was born out of a deep-seated desire to create sustainable and equitable communities. As someone who grew up in Georgetown, South Carolina, I saw firsthand the challenges and disparities faced by my community. I knew I wanted to make a difference, but it wasn’t until 2020 that the vision for The Greenprint started to crystallize.

It all began with a simple yet profound question: How can we leverage technology to empower communities to shape their own futures? The answer came in the form of a virtual game that would allow people to co-create sustainable neighborhoods. But transforming this idea into reality required a series of strategic steps.

The initial spark came when I wrote “The Greenprint,” a book that laid out my vision for a better world. This was more than just a personal manifesto; it was a blueprint for action. The book helped me articulate my ideas clearly and provided a foundation for what was to come.

The next step was research. I spent countless hours studying urban planning, sustainability practices, and community engagement strategies. I also looked into game design and educational tools that could facilitate interactive learning and community participation. During this phase, I reached out to experts in various fields to gather insights and advice.

My educational background significantly influenced the development of The Greenprint. I hold a BA in Interactive Media and an MFA in Film and TV Production from the University of Southern California. Interactive Media, which is essentially game design, inspired the idea of making a game. The concept of the “magic circle” in game design made me realize that society itself is a big game we all play together. My film program emphasized that a film is made in pre-production, which further inspired the idea of using this game as a form of pre-production for the world we want to live in.

Realizing the scope of the project, I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I started assembling a team of like-minded individuals who shared my passion for social justice and sustainability. This included developers, educators, urban planners, and community organizers. Together, we brainstormed and refined the concept of The Greenprint game.

With a solid plan in place, we moved on to prototyping. We created an extremely early prototype of the game in VR and on the web and tested them with small groups to gather feedback. This iterative process was crucial in identifying what worked and what needed improvement. We wanted to ensure the game was not only educational but also engaging and user-friendly.

Engaging the community was a vital part of the process. We held workshops and focus groups to involve local residents in the development of the game. Their input was invaluable in shaping the content and features. It was important that the game reflected the real needs and aspirations of the people who would use it.

Although we have made significant progress, we still need a considerable amount of funding to fully develop The Greenprint game. In the meantime, we have brought back our Connection series as a virtual talk show to continue our research and ensure honest community and expert involvement. This series allows us to dive deep into what will be needed in the game and to gather valuable insights from both community members and experts.

From idea to execution, the journey of The Greenprint has been one of learning, collaboration, and relentless pursuit of a better future. It’s a testament to the power of community and the impact we can have when we come together to envision and build the world we want to live in.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Jordyn Barber, founder of The Greenprint, an organization dedicated to empowering communities to create sustainable, equitable, and innovative environments. By sustainable, we mean communities where every resident enjoys free housing, nutritious food, comprehensive healthcare, quality education, and access to all community amenities without monetary cost. Equitable means these benefits are available to all, and innovative refers to our use of technology and collaborative approaches to achieve these goals.

At The Greenprint, we provide a unique blend of educational programs and an innovative gaming platform. Our services include:
1. Educational Programs: We run a Gaming Academy where students learn the basics of coding and game design using the Scratch engine. The curriculum incorporates the UN Sustainable Development Goals, teaching students to create games that address real-world problems.
2. The Greenprint Game: This virtual game allows communities to co-create sustainable neighborhoods. It’s a planning and organizing tool that empowers people to envision and build sustainable, equitable communities together.
3. Connection Series: Our virtual talk show brings together experts and community members to discuss critical topics like land use, housing, and sustainability, ensuring that our projects are informed by real needs and aspirations.

We solve several key problems for our clients and communities:
– Lack of Engagement in Urban Planning: By using a game-based approach, we make urban planning accessible and engaging for everyone.
– Educational Gaps: Our Gaming Academy equips young people with valuable skills in coding, critical thinking, and sustainability.
– Community Disempowerment: We empower communities to take control of their environments and futures through collaborative planning and design.

What sets us apart is our innovative use of technology and community-driven approach. By combining game design with urban planning and sustainability education, we create tools that are not only fun and engaging but also deeply impactful.

I am most proud of the community engagement we’ve fostered through our initiatives. Seeing people come together to envision and plan their futures is incredibly rewarding. The pilot projects we’ve initiated in places like Georgetown have shown real promise and have inspired us to continue expanding our efforts.

For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want you to know that The Greenprint is more than just a project; it’s a movement. We believe in the power of collective action and creativity to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Our work is grounded in the values of dignity, sustainability, and innovation, and we are committed to creating a brighter future for all.

Join us in this journey, whether by participating in our programs, supporting our initiatives, or simply spreading the word. Together, we can build the world we want to live in.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the most pivotal moments in my journey with The Greenprint occurred during a big meeting with potential funders in Charleston, South Carolina. I went into the meeting prepared to present a workshop, but I was caught off guard by how interested the attendees were in the game itself. I had spent several days creating a board game for the presentation, only to find that the focus was on the specifics of our game development progress and our business plan.

At that moment, I realized I was too early for this meeting. I didn’t have all the answers they were looking for, and I felt like I had failed. However, instead of giving up, I decided to double down with our team. We worked tirelessly to create a comprehensive plan, develop the UI for the future of the game, and revamp our Connection series. This pivot allowed us to begin the act of co-creating community despite not having our full-feature game.

Now, we are gearing up for a crowdfunding campaign, believing that our support will come from individuals who share our vision for a better world. We spent too much time chasing after big, established funders who couldn’t see the future as we do. What we truly need are those who align with our vision and are ready to support it.

We have yet to raise all the capital we need, but by doing the work with what we have, we believe the funds will come. This experience taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability. It reminded me that setbacks are part of the journey, but they don’t define it. What defines us is how we respond to those challenges and continue to move forward with determination and passion.

Since then, The Greenprint has grown significantly, but the lessons from that early challenge continue to guide me. I remain committed to our mission and to the communities we serve, knowing that resilience and perseverance are key to achieving our goals.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most significant lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that we needed to chase after every potential funding opportunity, even if it meant deviating from our core mission and values. Early on in our journey with The Greenprint, I believed that securing outside funds was crucial to our success. This led us to spend a lot of time and energy pursuing big, established funders who, in retrospect, were not fully aligned with our vision.

A pivotal moment that reshaped this thinking occurred during that major meeting with potential funders in Charleston, South Carolina that I spoke of. If I had focused on the game and not a workshop trying to tailor to what I thought they wanted from the beginning maybe things would be different. Maybe not. In any case, what I learned was to be very clear on what we do and how we do it. To be clear on Massive Transformative Purpose which is to create a platform and process for co creating communities rooted in sustainability, dignity, and innovation. We shifted our focus to those who align with our vision and values. We listened to feedback, but we made sure any changes we implemented were in line with our core mission. This approach has been far more fulfilling and effective. We are now gearing up for a crowdfunding campaign, believing that our support will come from individuals who share our vision for a better world.

Unlearning the need to chase external funding at all costs allowed us to stay true to our mission and values. It taught me the importance of clarity and alignment in everything we do, ensuring that we attract the right supporters who genuinely believe in our vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.createthegreenprint.com/
• Instagram: @producedbyearth
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegreenprint9277