CSS Hosts Inaugural Next Gen Creators Summit with CAA and TikTok

Jun 24

Written By The Center for Scholars & Storytellers

June 24, 2024

Today, the Center for Scholars and Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA partnered with TikTok and the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to launch the first-ever Next Gen Creators Summit, a one-day event to equip both emerging and established content creators with strategies to advance social issues and how to use their platform and voice for good. The summit’s programming centered around themes regarding mental health, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and climate change — featuring presenting partners like The Jed Foundation, GLAAD, and Futerra.

“We’re so grateful to be partnering with the CAA Foundation and TikTok to support the next generation of content creators,” said Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, founder and CEO of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA. “With many being Gen-Z themselves or having primarily Gen-Z audiences, these influencers serve as vital role models and trusted voices for adolescents online, with the power to uplift and guide adolescents through online spaces to thrive and grow.”

According to Axios, multiple polls have found TikTok to be a top source for news for Gen Z. And according to Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer, nearly 8 in 10 Gen Z and millennials expect to shape the future through work.

"Creators hold the power to shape narratives, change perception, and drive action on some of the most critical social issues of our time. They are the voices that reach millions, the storytellers who can turn complex topics into relatable and urgent calls to action,” said Dennis St. Rose, executive at the CAA Foundation. “By convening together with the world’s leading issue experts and thought leaders, we hope to build strong relationships and foster meaningful and impactful collaboration."

Starting with a powerful keynote address delivered by CAA client, actor, writer, and comedian Anna Akana (BLADE OF THE 47 RONIN), the invitation-only event served as a catalyst for partnerships between creators and nonprofit organizations to initiate meaningful conversations and actions. Throughout the day, there were thought-provoking panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions led by nonprofit leadership and subject matter experts, including:

Erika Crowell, Outreach and Partnerships Manager for Global Mental Health (Trust & Safety), TikTok;
Will Hilbert, Director, Storytelling & Culture Change, The Jed Foundation;
Jaya Adapa, SVP, Media and Content, Futerra;
Tony Morrison, Senior Director of Communications, GLAAD;
And many more.

The Next Gen Creators Summit was covered in The Hollywood Reporter. And content creators who attended were given access to a toolkit with key takeaways from the event, hosted on CSS’s website here.

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The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA is the only adolescent-centered organization that brings together the academic and creative communities to unlock the power of storytelling and help the next generation thrive and grow. Our primary aim is to support storytellers who are working towards better reflecting the lives of adolescents ages 10-25. CSS is affiliated with UCLA through the faculty appointment of our founder, Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, in the Psychology Department, one of the highest-ranked in the world. We have more than 100 academic collaborators from universities around the world. Our award-winning work has been featured on NPR, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Deadline, Good Morning America and more.

For media inquiries, please reach out to april@scholarsandstorytellers.com.