Pop Culture Anti-Bullying Coalition

Panel Back by Popular Demand at New York Comic-Con

Cartoon Network Network’s Stop Bullying: Speak Up,

 Anti-Defamation League, Her Universe, and The Hero Construction Company

Team Up with Celebs, Authors & Experts at Pop Culture Mecca

New York, NY, October 2, 2014 – Learn how to convert kryptonite into your own personal strength with Pop Culture Anti-Bullying Coalition’s powerful panel, back at NYCC by popular demand! 

Topics of discussion will include geek, cyber, and LGBT-bullying, becoming a hero IRL, and analyzing how media affects our attitudes toward bullying and aggression. 

End Bullying! Responding to Cruelty in Our Culture

Friday, 10/10/2014 • 5:00PM - 5:45PM

Room 1A21 • Javits Center

The unprecedented Coalition, which is all-volunteer and self-funded, was formed in 2013 by actress Chase Masterson (Star Trek: DS9, Doctor Who: Big Finish). and author Carrie Goldman (Harper Collins’ Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher, and Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear).

Young Adults, kids, parents, and educators will learn strategies from celebs & experts, including Cartoon Network VP Social Responsibility Alice Cahn, Her Universe Creator & Actress Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Comedian Joe Gatto (TruTV’s Impractical Jokers, Jokers Wild), Matt Langdon (Founder, Hero Roundtable and The Hero Construction Company), Dr Travis Langley (Author, Batman & Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), Anti-Defamation League’s Eva Vega-Olds (Director of Research and Communication), Goldman and Masterson.

“Pop culture revolves around heroes. Since we love them – why not be one?” asks Masterson, who has mentored bullied kids coming out of gangs at Homeboy Industries since 2008. “We’re not just here to make a stand against bullying. Everybody knows that needs to stop. We’re making a safe, go-to place where teens, kids and adults can find support, healing and answers.”

“In our digitalized, media-driven society, pop culture has a constant influence on the way that both children and adults interpret the world.  When kids see celebrities take action against bullying, it resonates strongly and sends the message that cruelty is not acceptable,” says Goldman. 

In addition to the Anti-Defamation League and Cartoon Network, the Coalition includes CW Seed’s Husbands and several national non-profits with initiatives to end bullying, including the United Nations Association, GLSEN, International Bullying Prevention Association, Girl Scouts of America, Brave Girls Alliance and the NoH8 Campaign.

NYCC, one of ReedPop’s undisputed epi-centers of the pop culture universe, draws over 150,000 fans and receives prominent press worldwide. Pop Culture Anti-Bullying Coalition brought this crucial issue to the heart of the Con’s entertainment-driven conversations.

"Challenging identity-based bullying is no small task, but we are confident that with practice, courage, and a clear strategy, youth can make a difference in challenging bullying and cyberbullying. ADL is thrilled to partner with the Pop Culture Anti-Bullying Coalition to help youth to become allies.” said Eva Vega-Olds, Director of Research and Communication, ADL. 

Matt Langdon focuses on building real-life heroes in schools with The Hero Construction Company and in society as a whole through the annual Hero Round Table conference. "Our approach to anti-bullying is summed up with this statement: the opposite of a hero is not a villain," says Langdon. "It's a bystander."

"STOP BULLYING: SPEAK UP uses the inspirational power of entertainment media to motivate young people, and the adults who care for them, to speak up safely and effectively when they see bullying happen,” remarked Cahn. “Working together, we can create a culture of kindness in our schools and communities."  

"From now on, Con-goers will come for cosplay, entertainment,

freebies, autographs -- and healing."

CNN

 http://www.AntiBullyingCoalition.com