Featuring Jeff Orlowski, Larissa Rhodes, and Dr. Candice Odgers

A Pre-recorded Conversation with Live Q&A

April 7 @ 5pm PT

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls is a keynote speaker at the Theatre for Young Audiences National Festival & Conference. For more information about the event including a registration link, visit their website here.

Join us on Thursday, May 7th @1pm for the next CSS Livestream event: How the Pandemic Will Change the Landscape of Children's Media.

Guest Speakers: Dr. Ellen Wartella, Director of the Center on Media and Human Development at Northwestern University, and Nancy Kanter, Executive Vice President of Content and Creative Strategy at Disney Channel Worldwide.

Tune in on Facebook Live.

Dr. Ellen Wartella

Ellen A. Wartella studies the role of media and technology in children’s health and development.   She is particularly interested in addressing public policy questions about children’s use of media and technology.  She is the Al-thani Professor of Communication Studies, and Director of the Center on Media and Human Development at Northwestern University. She also holds appointments in Northwestern’s School of Medicine, Department of Psychology and School of Education and Social Policy.  The author or editor of 12 books and more than 200 book chapters, articles, technical reports and paper. She is editor of Social Policy Reports, a publication of the  Society for Research in Child Development.  She has been active in policy deliberations in Washington, having testified before Congressional committees on children and media issues, including the Children’s Television Act.   Further, she chaired the Front-of-Package Marketing study committee of the Institute of Medicine (2009-2011), served on the Advancing Progress on Obesity Prevention study committee (2011-2013) and the Study of Food Marketing and the Diets of Children and Youth (2006).  She currently sits on the National Educational Advisory Board of the Children's Advertising Review Unit of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the Board of the World Summit on Children and Media, the Board of Children and Screens Institute, the Board of the Public Good Projects that sponsors A Healthy America initiative, and the Board of Spoon a foundation that brings nutritional training to caregivers in orphanages around the world. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Psychological Society and the International Communication Association, of which she was the president.  She received the 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award for Alumni of the University of Minnesota and in 2018 the Ver Steeg Award at Northwestern University.  She received an honorary doctorate from St. Vincent College in 2017

Nancy Kanter:

Executive Vice President, Content and Creative Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide

Nancy Kanter is executive vice president, Content and Creative Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide, a role she was promoted to in 2017. Her responsibilities include spearheading the content creation strategy that guides the development of original live-action and animated programming across Disney Channels' audience of kids age 2-11 as well as Disney Channel's produced content for Disney+. She also oversees strategy for acquired content that supports the overarching creative vision and, in partnership with the live-action and animation development/programming teams, continues the momentum of attracting, developing and retaining the best creative talent to support Disney's far-reaching portfolio of entertainment platforms for kids and families. She reports to Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.

Kanter was executive vice president, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide (2012-17). Under her leadership as general manager, Disney Junior, the 24-hour channel reigned as the #1 preschooler-dedicated TV network in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Girls 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49 for six years in a row (2013-18). Kanter was responsible for bringing the Peabody Award-winning "Doc McStuffins," the Emmy® Award-winning "Sofia the First," the Emmy Award-nominated "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," and other hit series "Vampirina," "Fancy Nancy" and "Muppet Babies" to Disney Junior.

Kanter joined Disney Channel in 2001. In 2011 and 2012, she led the successful rebrand of Playhouse Disney to Disney Junior, establishing the brand as a global powerhouse, with a total of 36 Disney Junior channels in 27 languages around the world. She formed the Disney Junior Educational Resource Group, an in-house team responsible for the curriculum development and focus group studies of Disney Junior content and brand extensions. She also established a council of academic advisors, comprised of experts in the fields of transmedia, storytelling, early education, language development, diversity, emotional learning, digital trends and literacy, to guide Disney Junior's learning and development curriculum designed specifically for kids age 2-7. 

Prior to joining Disney Channel, Kanter was president, Bluecow.com, an internet site for children's entertainment. She was previously an executive producer for Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop), where she supervised the development and production of more than 30 "Sesame Street" broadcast specials and direct-to-video projects, including the Emmy Award-winning "Elmo Saves Christmas."

Kanter's other experience includes producing ABC Afterschool Specials, as well as film editing (for which she won an Emmy Award) and several award-winning documentary films for public television. Additionally, she served as an adjunct professor of film at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY).

A native of New York, Kanter graduated magna cum laude from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in film and theatre. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and has served on its Board of Governors. She currently is a board member of the Hollywood Health & Society at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Kanter is based in Burbank, California, at the headquarters of Disney Channels Worldwide.

RSVP Here

With schools closed and remote learning the norm, how many hours of technology is acceptable for kids, and how much is too much? Can parents control when kids use technology for active learning and creating versus passive entertainment? Especially when they are working from home themselves? Are there any behaviors to watch out for? During this time of crisis, is screen time even something we should worry about at all?

 Yalda Uhls, author of “Media Moms and Digital Dads” and adjunct professor of psychology, and Alison Hewitt, of UCLA Strategic Communications, discuss new challenges facing parents and kids during COVID-19 safer at home guidelines, and research-based solutions on how to embrace technology, without having it run your family’s life.

These virtual conversations will be conducted via Zoom. Those who RSVP to the webinar will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom details prior to the event date.

National Foster Care Day is May 5th, join us and wear blue to raise awareness.

Register to tune in here: bit.ly/3cDcdUT

Our Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, will be a panelist for UCLA Psychology - Life After the Degree on February 27th at 5pm at UCLA.

For too long, the science of early learning has not been accessible to parents and educators. The Learning Sciences Exchange #LSX is changing that. Applications open for next class of fellows! Deadline 2/15/20.

How to Apply

LSX Fellowship applicants are asked to submit short personal statements on the assets they bring (200 words) and what they hope to gain (200 words); a description of a particular area of study or project they would like to embark upon (100 words); a résumé or CV; and a list of previous projects, published articles, or a video describing their work. If an applicant is selected for the short list, we will request references. To submit an application, click here. Deadline is February 15, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

More info here.

The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) Presents: 

Representation of Boys and Men in Media

#RealMasculinity

Online Livestream Episode and Live Q&A

Takes place on Friday, February 14th, 2020 @ 1:00pm – 2:00pm PST

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Caroline Heldman, Executive Director of The Representation Project, Professor at Occidental College, and the Senior Research Advisor for the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Sascha Paladino, Emmy-nominated Showrunner and Writer, Executive Producer of Disney's upcoming “Mira, Royal Detective,” Creator of Disney’s “Miles From Tomorrowland”

For more information click here.

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls will be a featured speaker at Davis Parent University (DPU), a free lecture series devoted to parent education in Davis, CA, on January 8th from 7-9pm at the Brunelle Theatre.

Click here for more information

The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) Presents:

Storytelling and Empathy

A conversation between a neuroscientist and the CEO of The Jim Henson Company

Livestream Episode and Live Q&A

Friday, December 13th , 2019 @ 1:00pm – 2:00pm PST

Guest Speakers:

Lisa Henson is CEO of The Jim Henson Company with credits including The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix), Dinosaur Train (PBS KIDS), and Sid the Science Kid (PBS KIDS) for television, and the feature films The Star (Sony Pictures Animation), Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Disney), and the upcoming Pinocchio (Netflix).

Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang is a Professor of Education, Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Southern California. She studies the psychological and neurobiological development of emotion and self- awareness, and connections to social, cognitive and moral development in educational settings. She uses cross-cultural, interdisciplinary studies of narratives and feelings to uncover experience-dependent neural mechanisms contributing to identity, intrinsic motivation, deep learning, and generative, creative and abstract thought. Her work has a special focus on adolescents from low-SES communities, and she involves youths from these communities as junior scientists in her work.

To Tune In: The Livestream will take place on Facebook Live and Instagram Live. Please follow and turn on notifications to our Facebook (@centerforscholarsandstorytellers) and Instagram (@scholarsandstorytellers) for updates and to tune in on December 13th.

To Participate in the Live Q&A: We will be hosting a live Q&A session during the Livestream. Tune in on December 13th to submit your questions for our guests live. If you would like to submit questions for the live Q&A portion ahead of time, please submit them to info@scholarsandstorytellers.com with “Q&A” in the subject line.

About: The Center for Scholars & Storytellers Livestream series features a live conversation between a content creator and an academic on priority issues for young people. The goal is to share insights with a storyteller audience. Our October Livestream was viewed over 6.3K times and counting (a huge growth from our first which had 1.6K views).

In collaboration with the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, the Livestream will be recorded and hosted on the CSS website https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com for future viewing.

Our Collaborator Micaela Blei will be hosting a private webinar and Q&A on Using Storytelling for Empathy. It will take place on Thursday, December 5th at 1pm EST.

Description: With compelling stories, we can help our listeners see other perspectives, feel connected as a team, and empathize with others. Focusing primarily on storytelling in presentations, interviews and other conversations, this course will explore research in the field of narrative and empathy and guide you through essential strategies for finding and effectively shaping the stories you want to tell in the workplace and to the public.

This training will also review the many forms that storytelling takes in public communication-- from social media stories to public interest campaigns-- and explore how to apply storytelling strategies to these forms.

How to Raise Resilient Kids in the Digital Age

6:00 pm, Monday December 2 at Pali Elementary

Please join us for an evening of food, mingling, and an insightful, informal talk by Dr. Yalda T. Uhls and Dr. Zelana Montminy who will provide guidance on how media impacts youth as well as share extremely useful information for parents and their kids on how to become resilient in today’s digital world.

Please RSVP so that we have enough food for all! Childcare will be available 5:45pm – 7:45pm courtesy of the YMCA at $10 per student, including a movie, popcorn & a drink. Reserve your spot with the YMCA today as space is limited! For more information and to RSVP, email Teacher Valerie at: valerie@palielementary.org

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls will be speaking at The Actors Equity Fund’s Parent's Group Leadership Meeting on November 20th from 6pm-8pm PDT.

RSVP Here.

Click here too learn more about the The Actors Fund.

Click here to learn more about the Looking Ahead program.

Our Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Yalda T. Uhs, will be a featured speaker at the University of Riverside’s Development Psychology Forum from 12pm-1pm PDT.

Our Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, will be moderating a Panel for UCLA Pritzker Center’s Foster Film screening from 5:30pm-8:30pm PDT at UCLA’s Fowler Museum on Thursday, October 24th, 2019.

To learn more and RSVP click here.

Our Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, presented “Storytelling 101: How Media Making Impacts Cognitive Development” on Monday, October 21st.

To watch a recording of the webinar Click Here.

This event is sponsored by Britannica Digital Learning and hosted by Ignite Digital Learning.

The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) Presents: 

Media and Early Childhood Learning 

Online Livestream Episode and Live Q&A

Took place on Friday, October 11th, 2019 @ 1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT

Guest Speakers:

Vicki Ariyasu, Vice President, Disney Channels Worldwide Diversity & Inclusion, Disney Junior Education Resource Group

Diane Ikemiyashiro, Executive Director, Original Programming, Disney Junior

To Tune In: The Livestream took place on our Facebook Live and Instagram Live. Head to our Facebook @centerforscholarsandstorytellers to watch it.

About: The Center for Scholars & Storytellers Livestream series features a live conversation between a content creator and an academic on priority issues for young people. The goal is to share insights with a storyteller audience.

About our Presenters: 

Vicki Ariyasu is Vice President, Disney Channels Worldwide Diversity & Inclusion, Disney Junior Education Resource Group. 

With her extensive academic and entertainment background, Vicki Ariyasu is making a difference for the millions of kids and families who watch Disney Junior and Disney Channels Worldwide. She leads the Educational Resource Group, a team responsible for the integration of early childhood educational content across intellectual properties and brand extensions. She also leads Disney Channels initiative and commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

Vicki’s priority is the seamless integration of early childhood education and developmental touchstones across series in creative development and production. She works closely with many other Disney teams including brand development and integrated planning, marketing, digital media, theme parks and resorts. She established the Disney Junior Advisory Board, a council of prominent multidisciplinary academics, experts, and cultural consultants. She has managed partnerships with UNICEF, Girls Scouts, Google, XPRIZE, NASA, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, Hollywood Health and Society, children’s museums, and science discovery centers. 

Vicki is responsible for an increasing volume of content to manage from an educational, child development, and inclusion perspective as the slate for programming grows exponentially. Vicki’s leadership role in diversity and inclusion has expanded as the need for resources has increased with her invaluable expertise for outreach capability, a deep understanding of the needs, and a sensitivity to the process of creating premium content. 

Vicki has an Ed.M. in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard, and a B.A. in East Asian and Asian American Studies from UCLA. 

Diane Ikemiyashiro is Executive Director, Original Programming, Disney Junior. 

She currently oversees production and creative development for the EmmyÒ Award- nominated series "Fancy Nancy," based on the New York Times bestselling books, and the upcoming "Mira, Royal Detective," a mystery-adventure series inspired by the cultures and customs of India. 

Ikemiyashiro played a key role in launching the Emmy® and Imagen Award-winning "Elena of Avalor," as well as fan-favorite series "Puppy Dog Pals." She served as the lead creative executive on the acclaimed STEAM-focused animated series "Miles from Tomorrowland" and its subsequent iteration, "Mission Force One." During her work on the series, she helped orchestrate the first kids television premiere in space, with the debut of a "Mission Force One" episode onboard the International Space Station. 

Prior to joining Disney in 2014, Ikemiyashiro worked in production and creative development for DreamWorks Animation where she helped develop and launch multiple family film franchises including "Shrek," "Kung Fu Panda," "Madagascar," "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Puss in Boots." Earlier in her career, Ikemiyashiro served as a staff writer in the White House Office of Correspondence, from 1995-1999. 

A native of Los Angeles, Ikemiyashiro received a Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University at Fullerton. She serves as a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 

In collaboration with the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television the Livestream will be recorded and hosted on the CSS website  https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com for future viewing. 

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls will be a featured guest speaker on a panel for Advertising Week in New York City on Thursday, September 26th at 11:30 AM ET.

The panel will be discussing the best ways to communicate with Gen Z and Gen Alpha in a meaningful and responsible way.

The 50-minute panel will be moderated by Kevin O’Connor, Chief Executive of The Week Jr. UK. Dr. Uhls will be alongside Anna Bassi, Editor of The Week Jr. UK, Dylan Collins, CEO at Super Awesome, and a YouTube Originals, Kids and Learning, representative. Learn more about the panel here.

Online Livestream Episode and Live Q&A

Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 @ 12:00pm – 1:00pm PDT

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers and former movie executive from MGM and Sony.

George Huang, is a Professor of Screenwriting at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and an award-winning writer/director.

In collaboration with the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television.

Please join us for our very first online livestream conversation. 

To Tune In: The online Livestream will take place on CSS’s Facebook and Instagram. Please follow and turn on notifications to our Facebook @centerforscholarsandstorytellers and Instagram @scholarsandstorytellers for updates and to tune in on August 21st. 

To Participate in Q&A: We will be hosting a live Q&A session at the end of the Livestream. If you would like to submit questions for the live Q&A portion ahead of time, please submit them to info@scholarsandstorytellers.com with “Q&A” in the subject line. Questions are also encouraged during the live portion.

About: The Center for Scholars & Storytellers Livestream series features a live conversation between a content creator and an academic on priority issues for young people. The goal is to share insights with a storyteller audience.

Click here for more information about this event.

Join our Co-director Kim Wilson for her presentation “Storytelling 101: Empower Students Through Multimedia Storytelling on Tuesday, August 13th, at 1pm-2pm EDT. To register and join the live session click here.

This event is sponsored by Britannica Digital Learning and hosted by Ignite Digital Learning.