Pop Culture Events

2013: Filling a crucial need for inclusion and representation in the pop culture world, the Pop Culture Hero Coalition created the first panel for justice over bullying and marginalization at a comic con. Coalition Founder Chase has produced and moderated over thirty panels since, with Co-Founder Carrie moderating when her speaking schedule allows. With these panels, the Coalition seizes the opportunity to:

• Reach out to bullied and other vulnerable kids, giving them a sense of validation and inclusion, including validation from their own heroes, transforming a pop culture event into a life-changing experience.

• Having established connection, provide follow-up for bullied youth, providing ongoing and future resources.

• Provide groundbreaking visibility and opportunities within the pop culture world for human rights organizations who fight bullying and abusive power in all its forms, including:

• United Nations

• ACLU

• NOH8 Campaign

• Amnesty

• Justice League NY

• Kiva

• The Trevor Project

• GLSEN

• Anti-Defamation League

• Moms Rising

• Juvenile Justice Project

Panel events include:

• San Diego Comic-Con

• Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2)

• PAX (Seattle)

• NY Comic Con

• LA Comic-Con

• FanX Salt Lake

• Shore Leave (Baltimore)

• TerrifiCon (Connecticut)

• Star Trek Las Vegas

• WonderCon (Anaheim)

• Silicon Valley Comic Con

• Long Island Who

• Fanime (San Jose)

• New Jersey Comics Expo

• Florida SuperCon

Curriculum Editor

Vanèe Matsalia with Nichelle Nichols

Ukrainian Jewish asylum seeker

Dr. Janina Scarlet with Life After Hate Founder Christian Picciolini

American Gods’

Ricky Whittle

Past Events

The United Nations made its comic con debut on Pop Culture Hero Coalition’s panel in NY!

ACLU made it’s pop culture con debut at Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2)!

NOH8 Campaign made its pop culture con debut with Founders Jeff Parshley and Adam Bouska!

Upworthy made its pop culture con debut at C2E2 with activist and journalist Parker Molloy!

Amnesty International USA made it’s pop culture con debut with Board Chair Ann Burroughs joining us for WonderCon in Anaheim!

The United Nations Association made its comic con debut with San Diego Chapter
President Bettina Hausmann!

Black Panther’s Quest Executive Producer
Geoff Thorne in Anaheim

American Gods’ Yetide Badaki at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2)

Superman / Legends of Tomorrow’s Brandon Routh joins Coalition Curriculum creators, Dr. Janina Scarlet and Dr. Andrea Letamendi

Rep. John Lewis’s Policy Advisor and Co-Author of MARCH Trilogy Andrew Aydin joins Star Trek icon Nichelle Nichols and Coalition Curriculum team Carrie Goldman, Dr. Janina Scarlet, Dr. Andrea Letamendi, Vanèe Matsalia, and Chase Masterson, along with MARCH artist Nate Powell, DC Comics Publisher Dan DiDio, and activist/actress Jen Padalecki

Nerdist hosts the Coalition's Join the Real-Life Justice League panel featuring Random Acts’ Executive Director Rachel Miner, Dr. Andrea Letamendi, Dr. Janina Scarlet, Adam Bouska & Jeff Parshley, Aliza Pearl, and Deric Hughes; moderated by Chase Masterson.

Rise of the Black Panther author Evan Narcisse at Silicon Valley Comic-Con

Chase Masterson, Activist Jo Garfein, Impractical Jokers’ Joe Gatto, Curriculum Editors Vanèe & Brandon Matsalia, Arrow Co-Executive Producer Deric Hughes, Love is Love Contributor David Avallone at WonderCon in Anaheim, 2018.

CONVENTIONS:

Our renowned team of experts does keynotes, panels and speaking engagements worldwide. Our panel topics include:

End Bullying: Becoming a Superhero In Real Life

Been bullied? Turn kryptonite into your own personal strength with Pop Culture Hero Coalition’s powerful panel! Topics include conquering bullying, cyber-bullying, & LGBT-bullying, racism, misogyny, and other forms of injustice. Learn strategies for healing, advocacy, and inclusivity, as well as how media affects our attitudes toward bullying, aggression -- and heroism IRL. Moderated by Coalition Founders Chase Masterson and Carrie Goldman.

Social Media and Social Conflict: How to Have Online Interactions That Remain Healthy

Join award-winning author Carrie Goldman for a must-attend workshop on how to resolve social conflict without letting it deteriorate into cyberbullying. Topics to be addressed include: Using Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and other media in a positive way; Strategies to manage screen addiction; Understanding when to take social conflict offline; Teaching kids how to be educated consumers of sexualized media.

What Should I Do When My Child's School Isn’t Responding Effectively to a Bullying Problem?

Join award-winning Author Carrie Goldman for a critically important workshop about how to deal with a school that has failed to respond effectively to claims of bullying. Topics to be covered include: Victim blaming by school administration; Responding to dismissive claims of “they were just kidding” by others; Strategies for targets; Tattling versus reporting; Turning bystanders into witnesses and allies.

Teaching Kids to be Heroes

Being a hero in real life is tough. Aimed at middle school and high school kids (and their parents and teachers), this session will provide background on the barriers to everyday heroism and give strategies to overcome them. Presented with stories, dry Australian humour, and research, this session will be one you remember. Speaker and Coalition Co-Founder Matt Langdon is the founder of the Hero Construction Company and works with Dr. Phil Zimbardo to promote modern, everyday heroism.

Teaching Ourselves to be Heroes: Bully, Bystander, or Batman!

When others might bully or just stand by in times of trouble, what does it take for someone to do the right thing? How do we learn to be heroic? For that matter, what is heroism? Examples from both real life & fiction help prepare us take action. Dr. Travis Langley (Star Wars Psychology: Dark Side of the Mind) leads this powerful talk. Don't be a bully or bystander. Be Batman.

"From now on, Comic-Con convention-goers will come for cosplay, entertainment, freebies, autographs — and healing."

CNN

POSITIVITY ZONE

At conventions, people write notes to kids who have been bullied, and we give them out to kids in our work in public schools.

11 Screen Shot 2015-03-31 at 11.15.55 AM

POSITIVITY ZONE

"I AM" CAMPAIGN

Celebrities join the Coalition by making bold statements about themselves, leading kids to celebrate their own individuality and bolster their self-esteem.

Participating icons, actors and authors include Stan Lee, Melissa Benoist, John Rhys-Davies, Felicia Day, Greg Grunberg, Seth Green, Orlando Jones and Hayley Atwell.

Stan Lee	3 Greg Grunberg • Star Trek Beyond, Star Wars, HeroeS	Coalition Founder Chase Masterson • Star Trek, Doctor Who Big Finish
John Rhys Davies • Lord of the Rings, Shannara Chronicles	Melissa Benoist • Supergirl	Chyler Leigh • Supergirl
Seth Green • Austin Powers, Robot Chicken	Geek Icon Felicia Day • Geek & Sundry	I am Brave
I am Strong	We are Bronies	Ming Na • Agents of Shield
Hayley Atwell • Captain America, Agent Carter	Sylvester McCoy • 7th Doctor Who, The Hobbit	Sebastian Roche • The Man in the High Castle
Ashley Eckstein • Star Wars' Ahsoka Tano; Founder, Her Universe	Rachel Skarsten • Reign, Lost Girl	Clare Kramer • Buffy, Angel, Bring it On
Jason Mewes • Silent Bob	Alison Haislip • Battlebots, Con Men	Comics Icon Gail Simone
Bruce Boxleitner • Tron, Babylon 5	Amu Chu • Alpha Girl Comics	Eoin Macken • Merlin
Carl Lumbly • Chicago Med	Ming Chen (Comic Book Men)	Humberto Ramos • Artist, Spider Man
Neve McIntosh • Doctor Who	Sean Astin (Rudy)	Hal Lublin • Thrilling Adventure Hour
Leah Pipes • Life is Wild	Orlando Jones • Comedian	Rick Howland • Lost Girl
Zoey Deutsch • Ringer	Co-Founder Carrie Goldman & Her Universe Founder Ashley Eckstein	Dr. Janina Scarlet • Author, Superhero Therapy
Stan Lee & Chase Masterson




Nerd clan	Panel

"I AM" CAMPAIGN

In July 2013, Pop Culture Hero Coalition created the first-ever outreach against bullying at a comic-con. We have participated in over 30 conventions since, including Star Trek conventions, pop culture cons, and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

In July 2016, we created the first-ever San Diego Comic-Con Justice Rally, Hosted by Representative John Lewis’s Policy Advisor, Andrew Aydin.

Our comic-cons panelists have included:

TV & FILM

Star Trek Icon • Nichelle Nichols
Arrow, Desperate Housewives, Torchwood • John Barrowman, MBE
Batman, The Dark Knight • Michael Uslan, Producer
Doctor Who • Colin Baker, Sixth Doctor
Jokers Wild’s Comedian • Joe Gatto
Daredevil • Tommy Walker
Batman Executive Producer and Author • Paul Dini
Star Wars Clone Wars Actress & Creator, Her Universe • Ashley Eckstein
Once Upon a Time Co-Executive Producer • Jane Espenson
Agent Carter Executive Producer • Jose Molina
Consulting Producer, Beauty and the Beast • Deric Hughes
Husbands Star & Executive Producer • Brad Bell
Most Craved Host • Jenna Busch
America’s Got Talent Comedian • Drew Lynch
The Biggest Loser Australia Host • Ajay Rochester

UNITED NATIONS

United Nations Development Program Political Process Leader • Charles Chauvel
United Nations Association San Diego President • Bettina Hausmann

EXPERTS & ACTIVISTS

NOH8 Campaign Founders • Adam Bouska & Jeff Parshley
Amnesty International • Chair of Board and Former Prisoner of Conscience Ann Burroughs
Policy Advisor to US Representative and Civil Rights Icon John Lewis • Andrew Aydin
Hollywood Health and Society • Director Kate Langrall Folb
Cartoon Network VP Social Responsibility • Alice Cahn
Global Ted Fellow, Countering Violent Extremism; Aranim Games Founder • Suleiman Bakhit
Juvenile Justice Project Campaign Manager • Angelo Pinto
Cancer Gets Lost Founder • Jo Garfein
Gaming Attorney • Angelo Alcid
Legion of Leia Founder • Jenna Busch
Slate Columnist and Astronomer • Phil Plait
Author & Superherologist • Dr. Travis Langley
TEDX Speaker • Dr. Andrea Letamendi
Superhero Therapy • Author Dr. Janina Scarlet
Founder, Hero Roundtable • Matt Langdon
Author & Speaker • Carrie Goldman
Coalition Founder • Chase Masterson

POP CULTURE EVENTS

Past Events

﻿CONVENTIONS:

End Bullying: Becoming a Superhero In Real Life

Social Media and Social Conflict: How to Have Online Interactions That Remain Healthy

What Should I Do When My Child's School Isn’t Responding Effectively to a Bullying Problem?

Teaching Kids to be Heroes

Teaching Ourselves to be Heroes: Bully, Bystander, or Batman!

"From now on, Comic-Con convention-goers will come for cosplay, entertainment, freebies, autographs — and healing."

POSITIVITY ZONE

"I AM" CAMPAIGN

Stan Lee

3 Greg Grunberg • Star Trek Beyond, Star Wars, HeroeS

Coalition Founder Chase Masterson • Star Trek, Doctor Who Big Finish

John Rhys Davies • Lord of the Rings, Shannara Chronicles

Melissa Benoist • Supergirl

Chyler Leigh • Supergirl

Seth Green • Austin Powers, Robot Chicken

Geek Icon Felicia Day • Geek & Sundry

I am Brave

I am Strong

We are Bronies

Ming Na • Agents of Shield

Hayley Atwell • Captain America, Agent Carter

Sylvester McCoy • 7th Doctor Who, The Hobbit

Sebastian Roche • The Man in the High Castle

Ashley Eckstein • Star Wars' Ahsoka Tano; Founder, Her Universe

Rachel Skarsten • Reign, Lost Girl

Clare Kramer • Buffy, Angel, Bring it On

Jason Mewes • Silent Bob

Alison Haislip • Battlebots, Con Men

Comics Icon Gail Simone

Bruce Boxleitner • Tron, Babylon 5

Amu Chu • Alpha Girl Comics

Eoin Macken • Merlin

Carl Lumbly • Chicago Med

Ming Chen (Comic Book Men)

Humberto Ramos • Artist, Spider Man

Neve McIntosh • Doctor Who

Sean Astin (Rudy)

Hal Lublin • Thrilling Adventure Hour

Leah Pipes • Life is Wild

Orlando Jones • Comedian

Rick Howland • Lost Girl

Zoey Deutsch • Ringer

Co-Founder Carrie Goldman & Her Universe Founder Ashley Eckstein

Dr. Janina Scarlet • Author, Superhero Therapy

Stan Lee & Chase Masterson

Nerd clan

Panel

CONVENTIONS: