Pride Month comes to The Sandbox with the launch of the first “hub of diversity, equity, and inclusivity” in the Valley of Belonging, developed in collaboration with People of Crypto Lab. This cultural hub will debut in the metaverse on June 24 as part of the "Belonging Week," ahead of Alpha Season 3. The Sandbox aims to celebrate cultural differences and diversity through this initiative.

People of Crypto Lab has created the “cultureverse” to amplify the voices and stories of diverse communities, including black and brown women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This platform will support creators, developers, and brands from marginalized communities, allowing them to showcase their work.

Various brands have partnered with People of Crypto Lab for "Belonging Week," including NYX Professional Makeup, the first cosmetics company to join The Sandbox. The event will feature avatars breaking gender norms around makeup with NYX's support.

These NFT avatars, adorned with voxelized makeup, will represent communities from the Pride Flag. The collection will include 8,430 avatars symbolizing the 84.3% of the population representing communities of color and LGBTQ+.

This diverse NFT collection includes more than 36 skin shades and various attributes to depict every ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural identifier. NYX will donate all profits from the NFT collection to the Los Angeles LGBT Center, potentially raising up to $50,000.

Designed by game developer Crab Studio, the cultureverse will be an inclusive space fostering imagination, creativity, and freedom of expression. The "Valley of Belonging" will be accessible year-round for visitors to play, express, and socialize.

Akbar Hamid, Co-founder of People of Crypto Lab, expressed his pleasure in creating a safe and inclusive web3 environment for minorities. He thanked NYX Professional Makeup and mentioned plans to expand with more inclusive brands worldwide.

Sebastian Borget, COO of The Sandbox, stated that "Belonging Week" aligns with the metaverse’s vision to invite everyone to create, play, and engage freely. The event will also feature other community celebrations like MetaPride Land, World of Women, and Blond:ish.