Press Release: Rip City Game-Con 2023
Ripon’s first ever board game convention, benefitingWisconsin-based non-profit Mana Oasis
Please join us as we escape into other worlds through board games, all the while benefitingcrucial non-profit Mana Oasis.
April 15th from 10 AM - 10 PM
Locally-owned and operated board game and hobby shop Alexandria Games (AG) is proud to partner with non-profit Mana Oasis to bring Ripon’s first ever board game convention to town, Rip City Game-Con (RCGC). Mana Oasis, a veteran-owned organization out of Juneau, WI, has the main mission of supporting veterans and first responders by creating a sense of community and increasing awareness around trauma, mental health, and suicide by using trauma-informed tabletop and role-play gaming. The Mana Oasis community is facilitated by trauma-informed gamemasters and supported by trauma-informed peer supports.
Did you know that 22 veterans per day take their own lives, according to a 2012 report from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs? That is 22 too many. Mana Oasis facilitates a safe space to build relationships with others, which allows players to share their traumas and mental health concerns, thereby reducing the mental health stigma and encouraging them to reach out for support.
On a broader note though, mental health concerns don’t stop with veterans and first responders. Now more than ever, folks of all ages struggle with mental health concerns. One of Alexandria Games’ main missions is to be a safe space for all - those who live on the margins because of their abilities, race and ethnicity, sexuality and gender, age, mental health status, and any other person who may feel "othered." With RCGC, AG’s goal is to put on an annual event for all-ages. AG invites Ripon's community of heavy-duty nerds, casual gamers, and all those in-between to participate.
RCGC will be structured similarly to other board game conventions -- there will be different tables playing different games at different times. A full schedule of games will be out soon as well as additional information.
For details, visit the Rip City Game-Con website at: www.ripcitygamecon.com
To speak with someone about RCGC, contact:
Lauren or Patrick McConnell, owners of Alexandria Games, info@alexandriagames.com; 920-896-6231
Eric Wagner, founder of MANA Oasis, Eric Wagner, eric@manaoasis.com; 262-506-4655
Interested in becoming an event sponsor? Contact Alexandria Games today!