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Transcript Summary: Gary Sheng & D'onna Kelley (2025-05-23)

1. Introduction & Virbela Platform Onboarding​

  • The meeting began with technical difficulties on Google Meet, leading to D'onna Kelley guiding Gary Sheng to download and install "Virbela," Zoe Ministries' virtual campus platform, via zoeministries.com.
  • Virbela Overview:
    • Adopted by Zoe Ministries around 2021 (due to Zoom security issues) through Archbishop Bishop O.W.'s initiative (via "Profit Legs").
    • Created by a company in Brazil.
    • D'onna Kelley and her sister are the platform admins, responsible for onboarding members (especially older ones) and managing its use.
    • Dr. Naomi Cook (Archbishop's daughter) heads the Tech & Marketing department overseeing Virbela.
    • "Legs" works with the Archbishop on media/sound and explores new tech with him.
  • Zoe Ministries' Use of Virbela:
    • Services held every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.
    • Mastermind group every third Saturday.
    • Used for classes, coaching (marriage & family, substance abuse, re-entry by Prophetess Antoinette Harris, etc.), and general interaction.
    • D'onna notes high engagement: "They can't wait to get back into their profile."
  • Gary successfully logged in, created an avatar, and was granted "leader access" by D'onna to enable screen sharing for his upcoming presentation.

2. Navigating Virbela & Technical Details​

  • D'onna guided Gary to the "Mastermind Auditorium" within Virbela.
  • Features: Avatars can sit, jump, dance, and use emotions. The platform includes presentation tools for sharing webcams and content on virtual screens.
  • Gary will present on a side screen tomorrow at 10 AM EST; the center screen is usually for the streaming studio in Saddle River.
  • Auditorium Capacity: The room can expand to hold 200-300+ attendees. D'onna can administratively change room shape/size.
  • Platform Performance:
    • Virbela can be resource-intensive, sometimes using 12-13 GB of virtual memory (minimum specs recently increased from 8GB).
    • Works on Mac/PC; not officially supported on tablets/mobile, though some users manage.
    • Chromebooks are a "definite no-no."
    • Ethernet connection is more stable than Wi-Fi.
    • D'onna will provide Gary with updated technical specifications.
  • Virbela Development: D'onna believes the developer team (Brazil-based) hasn't invested heavily beyond the base model but is open to suggestions and feature requests. Zoe Ministries is one of their largest non-profit accounts and uses the platform frequently.

3. Potential Collaboration: First Step Act & Re-entry Programs​

  • Gary mentioned the First Step Act (bipartisan federal criminal justice reform for prisoner re-entry and recidivism reduction) and his involvement in exploring tech solutions for it.

    Gary Sheng: "Its primary goals are to reform federal sentencing laws, reduce the federal prison population, blah blah, reduce recidivism, sentencing reform, blah blah blah."

  • D'onna confirmed Zoe Ministries, through Prophetess Antoinette Harris (founder of a re-entry foundation in Brooklyn, NY), is already involved in re-entry programs and coaching for formerly incarcerated individuals.

    D'onna Kelley: "Prophetess Antoinette chose to take that on, what, in 2015, she's just kind of run with it and has, definitely approached me, and we've worked together in some of the courses she's provided."

  • Synergy Identified:
    • Gary saw Virbela as a potential tool for these re-entry programs, providing a virtual community and learning space for inmates.

      Gary Sheng: "It's one thing for them to, like, learn an education course, but nothing things like, hey. You can talk about what you learn. Together in a virtual space even though you're in the cell. Right?"

    • D'onna expressed openness: "I'm open. So where wherever that's going, I'm open to being a part of the conversation."
  • Next Steps for Collaboration:
    • D'onna will connect Gary with Prophetess Antoinette Harris.
    • Gary is interested in how Zoe Ministries can be involved more broadly, given the significant Black population among inmates.
    • Discussion on understanding minimum tech requirements (e.g., for tablets for inmates) to run Virbela.

4. Upcoming Presentation & Conclusion​

  • Gary's presentation in Virbela is scheduled for the next day (Saturday) at 10 AM EST.
  • Ariel from Zoe Ministries is coordinating presentation details (e.g., PDF format is acceptable).
  • D'onna mentioned various other features of Virbela like virtual yachts and boats.
  • Gary had an upcoming meeting with Archbishop Bishop O.W. shortly after this orientation.

Key Quotes:​

  • D'onna Kelley on Virbela adoption: "Zoom was being hacked. Every time we were in a service... And so, it's just a more secure way for us to join and interact."
  • D'onna Kelley on member engagement: "They're almost adamant about it. They can't wait to get back into their profile."
  • D'onna Kelley on Virbela's flexibility: "This this is the most workable one for the seniors. So yeah. In a in a community setting? Yes."
  • Gary Sheng on First Step Act tech needs: "They asked me to, like, help with tech. For this because they apparently haven't found a good like tech solution."
  • Gary Sheng on Virbela for re-entry: "This could be part of it... you can talk about what you learn. Together in a virtual space even though you're in the cell."
  • D'onna Kelley on collaboration: "I'm open. So where wherever that's going, I'm open to being a part of the conversation."
  • D'onna Kelley on Virbela development: "I I don't think that they have really invested too heavy in their developer team the way they're supposed to... But there are some things that they're open to, especially around suggestions."