Overview
In 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation partnered with me to execute a dual-purpose activation at the Latinx Games Festival: a recruiting initiative targeting game developers with specialized technical skills, and a digital child safety campaign aimed at families, parents, and children in attendance.
The partnership demonstrated something the broader industry is only beginning to recognize: that game development expertise has real-world applications well beyond entertainment, and that the Latinx Games Festival community represents a uniquely valuable and skilled professional audience.
What I Did
Recruiting Initiative
The FBI sought game developers with proficiency in Unity and Unreal Engine to assist with active federal investigations, specifically the recreation of crime scenes in 3D game environments to explore alternative investigative scenarios and support case analysis. I hosted and curated the recruiting activation, connecting FBI representatives directly with qualified developers from the festival’s community.
Digital Child Safety Initiative
The FBI also used the festival as a platform to promote digital child safety resources to the families, parents, and children in attendance, addressing the growing and serious issue of online predators targeting children through video games and online gaming platforms.
Community Reception
What could have been an unexpected presence on the festival floor became one of the most meaningful moments of the 2023 edition. The FBI team actively engaged with developers and parents on the floor, and their shared passion for gaming helped build authentic trust in real time.
Outcomes
- Access to a highly skilled, specialized professional community
- A trusted, neutral venue for government outreach to the Latino community
- Authentic engagement built on shared values
- Reach beyond entertainment, demonstrating the games industry as a legitimate partner for federal agencies