About Izzy Neis
Izzy Neis is a published author, a youth virtual world & safety guru, a cookie connoisseur, pop culture aficionado (especially in children’s entertainment), and a zealot in the pro-kid movement. She’s earned her degree in Elementary Education, a masters in the Teaching and Practice of Creative Writing, and has worked with children for 15+ years.
Currently, Izzy is serving as Sr. Community Manager for Six Degrees Games in Marina Del Rey, California. At Six Degrees Games– the team plans on revolutionizing the intersection between gaming & virtual worlds on various UNIQUE levels. Most of what they are working on is covert– stealth– top secret… so watch out for the team, ’cause they’re a’coming 
In the words of SDG:
Six Degrees Games is a new kind of game publisher. We’re creating the next generation gaming and social media platform, but don’t want to tell you too much just yet. If you want to join our mailing list, send a line to: list@sixdegreesgames.com and we’ll be happy to include you in our beta program.
In the past, Izzy had the position of User Engagement Manager at Star Farm Productions, a children’s entertainment company. At Star Farm, she created the community department, managed the staff, acted as web strategist, web content editor, web copy editor, costumer service, and played the part of Kid Guru and uber product consumer. Izzy also helped co-develop and write for a preschool book series debuting in 2008 with 9 books called The Kinetics.
Izzy Neis was also fortunate enough to work with eModeration– a community outsourcing company with such amazing clients as Disney/ABC, Delta, Times Online, etc. eModeration is an amazing company and growing by the day!
How Izzy got into children’s media is 1/3 fuzzy, 1/3 organic, 1/3 spirit. In some ways, there was never really a choice in the matter. If you get a chance to meet Izzy– you’ll understand.
On a personal note: Izzy lived abroad for a while, has a love affair with the entire nation of Scotland, and misses traveling desperately! **She still writes actively, and is trying something new with one of her old manuscripts and a weekly blog (check out “The Misadventures of the Royal Runaways“)**. Her weaknesses are cookies straight from the oven and terribly unhealthy Pirate’s Booty snack. Although she’s currently addicted to the site icanhascheezburger.com, she is highly allergic to cats, as well as citrus, and is starting to believe that cats armed with citrus are planning ways to destroy her.
This BLOG will mark Izzy’s path towards professional uber-guru of multimedia for kids, especially within the youth community & virtual world market. There are always people to meet, things to learn, and people to share cookies with, so don’t be a stranger.
P.s. I must pre-apologize if my grammar/spelling is atrocious. I am doing this blog as I juggle daily agendas, and spend little time focusing my editorial efforts. There are articles that pop up and web-surfings worthy of ranting & rambling– and I would rather have at ‘em in this blog then wait for a time when I can properly line edit. I promise to do my best though.
Where you might find Izzy (research, work, life, social networking):
Pownce, Bebo, Myspace, Facebook, Youtube, Mybloglog, Faceparty, Friendster, WAYN (Where Are You Now), Hi5, Aim, MSN Live Messenger, Google Groups, Yahoo! Groups, LinkedIn, del.icio.us, flickr, Twitter, ilike, wis.dm, GoAbroad.net, Jaiku, Joost, Wikipedia, Yelp, Meetup, Myyearbook, Talkcity (and the late great Star Wars chat rooms: Naboo’s Swamp!), ABC forums/blogs, NBC forum/blogs, OKDork, WordPress, Blogspot, LiveJournal, Blogger, Tribe, Netvibes, igoogle, ilike, Craigslist, Gumtree, Xanga, Lonelyplanet, Travelocity, Orbitz, MediaBistro, Limewire, Flock, Dodgeball, Multiply, 43 Things, Dandelion, Magnolia, Amazon, Edgarandellen.com, Mashable, BestWeekEver.tv, AdultSwim, Gaia, Neopets, Whyville, Club Penguin, DiscoveryKids, PBSKids, GoCityKids, Nicktropolis, Nick, TurboNick, Stardoll, Lego, Girlsense, Webkinz, Gopets, Sparktop, Tygirls, Allykatzz, Puzzle Pirates, Second Life, World of Warcraft, Kingdom of Loathing, Yomod, DXD, Disney Fairies, Toon Town, VMK, Habbo, Everythinggirl, Barbiegirl, Trollz, Bratz, Pony Club, Pokemon, Series of Unfortunate Events, Emily Strange, Tagged, Tagworld, Flip, MTV, The-N, Meez, WeeWorld, Blogsafety, Stopcyberbullying, Jumpcut, Cyworld, Imbee, IMEEM, IMVU, Leakylounge, Mugglenet, Dissendium, Chamber of Chat, Harry Potter (Warner Brothers), Fosters Big Fat House Party, Epals, Phatgnat, Kits Who Rip, Flux, think.com, Lov.li, Etsy, Threadless, InnerTee, YSN, InvisibleChildren, Change.org, Rosie’s For Kids, Skrbl, Media UK, World Traveller, RIPL, Styleguide, HotorNot, My Pop Studio, People, Alfie, (the late) Broken Lizard forum, 4815162342, Blog Awards, Technorati, stumbleupon, Funnyordie, collegehumor, IRC, E!, Pink Is the New Blog, MoshMonsters, Maple Story, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Disney Online, Nicktropolis, Zibbie, Shining Stars, Funky Town, Neopets, Stardoll, Girlsense, Allykatzz, MiniMatch, FusionFall, PBS kids play, iknowthat, Lord of the Rings Online, Hello Kitty Online (Sanrio), Buildabearville, Muppet Central, Imbee, There.com, Kidzbop, Wowbotz, CBBC online, etc (the list goes on…)
December 9, 2006 at 4:37 am
I found your blog searching for a name for mine. I’m a married in Neis and found you fascinating. FYI I think you a very profound and can’t wait to read more of your posts.
February 14, 2007 at 9:52 pm
HI, Jen! Woo hoo, distant family ROCKS! Hopefully we can connect the dots and see how far of cousins we are. Thanks for finding me! Go Neises!
March 3, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Hi Izzy
Great to say hi. Glad you are part of the “community”. Love to share notes and learn about your experiences with tween communities.
Mukund
March 4, 2007 at 3:32 am
Hi Izzy,
Thanks so much for the kind words on my blog, as well as listing me on your site!!
Besides working with kids and issues of safety, we also share in the most important “cookie connoisseur” line of work!!! ha
And oh, World domination?? ROCK ON!!
Good luck and hope to hear from you soon!
jace
March 6, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Hi ya Izzy.
I hate to ask you this, but I did not like my web blog name, so I changed or tweaked it a bit.
Please note the change on your list of links.
Thanks so much and have a wonderful day!
http://internetsafetyadvisor.squarespace.com
(from internetsafetyQUEEN)
Jace
March 7, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Howdy, Ms Izzy!!
Thanks for the comment on my blog today!!
You may have a great idea for a “cookie campaign”!
March 16, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Hi Ms Izzy!
Thanks for the comment, girl!! Yes, I saw that article, thank you. There are numerous pending bills regarding social networking AND cyber bullying out there, and much debate on both. I am in the process of implementing an anti-cyber bullying campaign in my school district, then hope to press that forward to my entire region(10 school districts).
Have a marvelous Friday!
jace
April 2, 2007 at 8:27 pm
[...] Izzy Neis, who I met at Community Next awhile back, captures this feeling quite well in an earlier blog post on Nicktropolis when she writes: “I’ve sat down with a group of kids and watched them surf (you want to watch something interesting– watch a kid click about the web). The girls (6 - 12) liked Disney.com (pre-relaunch)– it didn’t hurt their eyes with blink-blink/flash-flash. —The boys (6 - 12) liked addictinggames.com & Kingdomofloathing.com. [...]
May 4, 2007 at 7:07 am
[...] community whiz Izzy Neis just put together an excellent list of “Worthy Tween/Kid Communities” that I need to [...]
August 29, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Hey Izzster, what’s up. Been a bit.
I finally got around to checking out Hauron and the Sea of Stories - pretty epic.
Well, not epic in the gigantic sense of being protracted. It was a quick’un (but a good’un).
Honestly, didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. If all of Rushdie’s books are as pleasant to read as Hauron I’ll be purchasing…Plentimaw.
Get it, did you get that. I’m so funny. That was genius, I’m a genius. Plentimaw, as in the magical many eyed rhyming angel fish populating the waters of Kahani. Bam!
Anyways, just dropping a shout out to my favorite teaching-reading-writing-apples-to-apples-playing-blogger.
PEACE OUT!!
August 30, 2007 at 5:19 am
Hey izzy, just a quick note to say that your blog is so way cool, really insightful and has just enough silliness! i’m interested to learn more about tweens for my branding company and this is where i’ll be starting
nice to e-meet you!
- Jeremy
August 30, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Thanks, Jeremy! Took a look at your webpage/portfolio– awesome stuff! Very jealous of your talents. If there is anything I can do, or you wanna chat about youth media, let me know! If there’s anything I like to do… it’s a good ramble.
August 31, 2007 at 12:47 am
i’d love to chat actually
shoot me an email so we can exchange contact details and we’ll get rambling! 
speak soon.
- J
October 2, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Iz, I did a google search and found something about Naboo Swamp in Talkcity. I can’t find it now! Was I lead to the right place? Is this the same Naboo Swamp in Talkcity from like 1998, ‘99, ect?
October 9, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Izzy -
I met Joi Podgorny this weekend at an Online Communities Summit in CA and we talked a great deal about youth involvement in online community. She suggested that I contact you regarding a question that I have.
I am interested in knowing if you know of any elementary or middle schools that have created an online community for their schools as a way to enhance interactions via an online component (much like company’s do these days).
I am considering proposing this idea to the PTA of my daughter’s elementary school. The kids will be introduced to this someway / somehow so why not create a forum for the parents to introduce the kids and have it as a tool to enhance relationships and offer support like homework help and meet-ups?
Just a thought I have and any info or references you might know of would be fantastic!
Thank you!
Holly
October 9, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Izzy -
I met Joi Podgorny this weekend at an Online Communities Summit in CA and we talked a great deal about youth involvement in online community. She suggested that I contact you regarding a question that I have.
I am interested in knowing if you know of any elementary or middle schools that have created an online community for their schools as a way to enhance interactions via an online component (much like company’s do these days).
I am considering proposing this idea to the PTA of my daughter’s elementary school. The kids will be introduced to this someway / somehow so why not create a forum for the parents to introduce the kids and have it as a tool to enhance relationships and offer support like homework help and meet-ups?
Just a thought I have and any info or references you might know of would be fantastic!
Thank you!
Holly
October 11, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Heck yeah– Hermod! Sadly Talkcity’s Naboo swamp is long since gone. But I believe there is a Watto’s Junkyard in MSN groups? It’s been so long. I miss my m&m tree a lot. lol
October 25, 2007 at 1:18 am
Hey Izzy,
Real enjoy all that you write and review in the tween world…Would welcome the opportunity to hear more on what you are doing with other ventures, and certainly want to introduce you to another tween project that i think you will really enjoy alongside Star Farm…
Best,
Reggie Greiner
SCP Capital
November 6, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Hi, Reg!!! I certainly be calling soon!
November 24, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Wait you are a published author? that means you wrote a book, right? What’s it called? I would love to buy it
November 24, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I guess if thats what published author means. I think it does. I have a 4 day vavation and need to go back to school!
November 27, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Izzy…I just found this and had no idea that you have moved west! Congrats and best of luck to you at 6 Degrees Games - Nick still asks about you, by the way! I am working in the Hancock building - so guess who is BFF with John Hancock now?? ME! HA. Please keep in touch! I loved living in sunny CA - hope you do too! XO Phaeds
December 14, 2007 at 2:58 am
Dear Izzy:
Now that things have started to slow down, I wanted to extend my gratitude for you giving me the valuable experience of community screener at Star Farm. I learned a lot about children, their environment and how to protect their safety. That was a really fun job and I am so lucky to have witnessed the fun.
I checked out your blog and saw that you have a new job in California. Best of luck with that!
Thank you once again for everything. You really made a positive difference in my life.
Best regards,
Michael Gay
January 5, 2008 at 2:44 am
Hi Izzy,
I noticed that you had the SparkTop.org site as going to be shut down. That is not the case. It will continue under a new owner, the Professor Garfield Foundation, http://www.professorgarfield.org. We have worked closely with SparkTop.org for many years and will continue to serve kids by providing wonderful free educational materials that are researched based and that kids love.
Regards,
Bof Levy
January 22, 2008 at 12:58 am
Hi Izzy
I hope you’re well
Myles from The Brothers McLeod here…
We have recently completed a little series for CBBC ‘Pedro and Frankensheep’
One of the episodes can be seen on YouTube
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UJo9GqlfMMI
I just thought I’d flag this up in case it was something you’d like to feature on your site. We’re rather proud of the series and are trying to spread the word.
All the best
Myles
================================================================================
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Pedro and Frankensheep is a series of 10 x 5 minute episodes for CBBC following the scientific misadventures of a super intelligent guinea pig Pedro and his naïve simpleton cyborg sheep Frank. Also featuring two high IQ ticks Hector and Hugo that live on Frank’s head and who burst into song every episode.
Download promo pics here
http://www.brothersmcleod.co.uk/promo-stills-pedro.zip
CBBC
Nine episodes are available to view at the CBBC website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/pedro/
And particularly nice are the make-your-own Foldeez characters that the BBC has put together from our characters in the series.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/grab/foldeez/pdf/foldeefrank.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/grab/foldeez/pdf/foldeepedro.pdf
Myles McLeod
The Brothers McLeod
Spark and Zoom Films
07775 911113
http://www.brothersmcleod.co.uk/
http://uk.youtube.com/brothermcleod
February 20, 2008 at 12:59 pm
A Big Blog Bravo!
Excellent, well thought out, and very well written posts have made your blog both a pleasure to read and a source of valuable information.
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February 29, 2008 at 1:59 am
Hi Izzy!!!
I miss you sooo much!
Ur sooo lucky u live in LA where u dont have to deal with this crappy weather!!
Anyway, the next time we go down to California, we gotta see you!!!
Please respond!
-Nick
March 17, 2008 at 12:06 am
Hey Izzy,
I would like you to review my site and products. The “About Us” has the history of the development of Beautiful Kids Natural Products,LLC. I have a products that feature organic honey - and focus on being green for tween girls. They are dye, nut, wheat and egg free” with a great scent! Let me know what you think! Sassyfantasyworld.com.
Thanks,
Mary Robbins, Founder