The News Stand

VR Experience Helps Build Empathy at Houston Community College

Houston Community College Central is hosting a special virtual reality event to help people understand different perspectives and build empathy. On November 15, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, participants can use VR technology to step into someone else's shoes and experience life from different viewpoints. The event is free and open to 40 people. Through story-driven simulations, participants will explore social justice issues, accessibility challenges, cultural stories, and lived experiences different from their own. VR is uniquely powerful for building empathy because it lets people see, hear, and feel what life is like for others. This isn't just watching - it's actively experiencing someone else's reality. The event also includes Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT), a program developed by Emory University that teaches compassion skills. The Reality COLLAB partners with HCC to use immersive technology for social good. This event returns after being held in 2019 and 2020, showing how VR can be a tool for education and social change. Free parking is available, and registration is required.