Youth Media Representation Program

Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort will open late spring / early summer 2025. Reach out to bubba@scholarsandstorytellers for more information.

Reach out to our Youth Engagement Manager Bubba Harris at bubba@scholarsandstorytellers.com.

Join our Youth Engagement Network to stay updated with opportunities: scholarsandstorytellers.com/youth-engagement-network

Yes, all teens admitted into the YMR program receive a stipend for their work with us over the course of the year-long initiative.

No, the program is primarily virtual. We accept teens across the country, and are committed to empowering young people that reflect the diversity of our country.

Our current cohort contains approximately 70% young people of color, who identify as lower or middle class, have attended public schools, and live everywhere from Florida to Baltimore, Washington State to New York City, and beyond.

Young people who participate in the program have the opportunity to be mentored by and learn from renowned researchers and reputable names in the entertainment industry, as well as to make connections with peers who are also passionate about psychology and media. Through participation in the program, they have the opportunity to learn about different paths towards careers in entertainment, advocacy, and research, while developing hands-on experience in these fields.

When you involve young people in the process, you create content that is more authentic and realistic and, ultimately, better for your bottom line.

The YMR program is an initiative led by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA through the following team:

Bubba Harris

• Varnell (Bubba) Harris is the Youth Digital Marketing Manager at CSS. Bubba has been heavily involved in the media & entertainment industry for more than 7 years. Previously, he has written and produced content for several gaming and entertainment companies including Epic Games, where he worked on the critically acclaimed video game Fortnite. Bubba is also a Black content creator who wants to make a difference in the world through smiles, laughter, and community engagement. 

Maya Hernandez, PhD

• Dr. Maya Hernandez is an interdisciplinary scholar at the intersection of developmental psychology, education, and informatics with an emphasis on youth development in the digital age. She studies mechanisms of identity development, civic engagement, and mental health as it relates to social media use of historically underrepresented youth through quantitative, qualitative, and participatory action research methods. As Dr. Hernandez continues her academic pursuits through collaborations with UC Irvine, Wellesley College, and UCLA, she also applies her expertise leading the Next Generation Initiatives at a local non-profit in Los Angeles.

Jill Sanford

• Jill Sanford is a producer in the kids and family space, working both independently and with Sony Pictures Animation. Previously she worked at Netflix, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel overseeing a wide range of children's programming.

Stuart Friedel

• Stuart Friedel is a writer/producer who specializes in proactive programming for young audiences (Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show; Alice's Wonderland Bakery) . He holds a BA in Media Studies from Pomona College, an MFA from USC’s Peter Stark Program, and an MA from the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, where he conducts ongoing research on fostering healthy developmental trajectories for young actors in Hollywood. He was also the first producer of the Scriptnotes podcast with John August & Craig Mazin. Read more (or less) at stustustu.com.