Alyssa Sweetman, the director of strategy at Player 2 and founder of Ideation Forge, has been awarded the Games for Change Vanguard Award for her efforts in fostering positive change and inclusivity in the gaming industry. The Vanguard Award is given to individuals who exemplify the core values of Games for Change and are leaders in their field. Sweetman’s previous experience includes working as a second-grade teacher and organizing online communities during college. She joined Twitch in 2017 as the program manager for social impact, where she launched initiatives for Black History Month and Women’s History Month, as well as partnering with the 1000 Dreams Fund to establish the BroadcastHER Grant.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Sweetman expressed her shock at receiving the Vanguard Award, thanking the incredible people who supported her throughout her journey. She discussed her transition from teaching to working in the tech and gaming industry, highlighting the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Sweetman also reflected on the changes she’s witnessed in the industry since she started, noting that conversations around diversity and inclusivity have become more common and accepted. However, she emphasized that more needs to be done, particularly in terms of providing resources for social impact programs.
When asked about the benefits and challenges of charitable endeavors in the online creator space, Sweetman acknowledged the general mistrust that surrounds nonprofit work. She praised platforms like Tiltify and Streamlabs Charity for allowing creators to fundraise directly and emphasized the need for creators to be more conscious and thoughtful about the nonprofits they support.
Regarding the future of the gaming industry, Sweetman believes that games have the power to tell incredible stories and normalize various experiences. She urged game companies to take a stronger stance against intolerance and use their platforms to create empathy and promote positive change. As for her own future, Sweetman expressed a desire to expand beyond her role as a “charity expert” and explore other aspects of game development. She is currently involved in building online communities and working on a visual novel with friends, with a long-term dream of establishing a hobbyist game dev group.
Overall, Alyssa Sweetman’s work in the gaming industry has been recognized and celebrated through the Games for Change Vanguard Award. Her dedication to fostering positive change and inclusivity serves as an inspiration to others in the industry, and she continues to advocate for the importance of social impact in gaming.