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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:

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    • 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:

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    • 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

American Gods’

Ricky Whittle 

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

From L-R: Global CVE Expert and Comic Creator Suleiman Bakhit, Impractical Jokers’ Joe Gatto, Founding Member of Justice League NY / Juvenile Justice Project Campaign Manager Angelo Pinto, United Nations Inclusive Political Process Team Leader Charles Chauvel, Carrie Goldman, Dr. Janina Scarlet, Chase Masterson.

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

Activist Carlyle DePriest, Chase Masterson, ACLU Illinois Executive Director Colleen Connell, Carrie Goldman

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

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

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

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

A powerful intersection of pop culture, mental health, and social justice at San Diego Comic-Con!

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

Arrow’s John Barrowman MBE

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Our comic-cons panelists have included: 

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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