October 23, 2025

UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center

Join us for our 5th annual summit, where we bring together entertainment industry professionals, youth activists, researchers, scientists, and public health leaders to support kids, teens, and young adults through some of the most pressing challenges of our time by meeting them where they are: on screens.

The Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award

CSS is excited to launch the the Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award, with acclaimed producer, director, and storyteller Greg Berlanti as its inaugural recipient at the 2025 Teens & Screens Summit.

Greg Berlanti's ability to create authentic, diverse narratives that resonate with teen and young adult audiences has made him one of the most influential voices in contemporary media. We are thrilled to recognize his contributions to the entertainment industry in this way.

The Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award is presented by

Creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director (VAMPIRE DIARIES Universe)

Writer, creator, producer, and director (DAWSON’S CREEK), creator (SCREAM Franchise)

The Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award will become a permanent feature of our annual Summit, honoring creators who use their platforms to address important social issues and inspire positive change through compelling narratives.

Support the Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award

Help us expand the reach and impact of this meaningful recognition. Your contribution to the Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award will enable us to grow our teen programming, reach more young storytellers, and amplify diverse voices that are driving positive change in media and entertainment. Together, we can ensure that creators who use their platforms for social good continue to be celebrated and supported.

Support: Greg Berlanti Social Impact Award!

2025 Summit Schedule

Networking

Refreshments

9 AM

Opening Remarks

Welcome

9:30 AM

VP of Research & Programs

Center for Scholars & Storytellers

Dr. Yalda T. Uhls

Founder & CEO

Center for Scholars & Storytellers

Dr. Alisha J. Hines

9:40 AM

Opening Keynote

The Power of Storytelling

10:00 AM

Panel

Audience Data

Kate Coke

Head of Data Insights

Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

Vani Henderson

Head of User Experience, Kids & Family

YouTube

Fireside Chat

10:20 AM

Black Youth Identity and Mental Health

Dr. Raquel Martin

Fellow

Hopelab

Jamila Hunter

President

Macro Television

Director of Entertainment & Culture Marketing

Matt Feniger

United Talent Agency (UTA)

Panel

10:40 AM

Identity Development Through Media Spaces

Estefanía Rebellón

Actress and Co-Founder/CEO

Chelsie Hill

Content Creator and Founder/CEO

Monkeypaw Productions, Get Out (2017), Us (2019), Nope (2022), MonkeyMan (2024)

Keisha Senter

Senior Vice President of Culture and Impact

Digital Creator, Speaker, Author, and Disability Advocate

Molly Burke

Networking

11:20 AM

Break

11:30 AM

Panel

How Media Creates IRL Community

12:10 PM

Panel

Audience Talks Back

YouTube Youth

Megan Cruz

TikToker/Influencer

Juju Green

TikToker/Influencer

Jacqueline Coley

Awards Editor

Anthony Plaza

17-year-old student

Vice President, Original Content & Business Affairs

Heather Anderson

ESPN

Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing

Rhett Nichols

NFL

Paramount

Meredith Goldberg-Morse

Alexis Rice

Global Partnerships

Director of Social Impact

Rotten Tomatoes

Networking

12:50 PM

Lunch

Ask The Teens (the Experts)

Q&A

1:45 PM

Andres Cuervo

Youth Engagement Program Manager

Roblox

Hollyn Alpert

14-year-old YMR student

Alyssa Ruvalcaba

18-year-old YMR student

Wolfie Bikel

17-year-old YMR student

Presidents of Sony Pictures Animation

Notable films include: Kpop Demon Hunters (2025), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).

Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville

Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences, Hopelab Fellow

Dr. Charity Brown Griffin

Winston-Salem State University

Universal Studios Hollywood

Pinterest

Vice President, Global Content & Partnerships

Lauren Glaubach

Mark Jenkins

Senior Director, Entertainment Creative Development

Vice President, NBC Unscripted Formats, Programming & Development

Merrill Hendrickson

Universal Television Entertainment Group, The Voice.

Youth Engagement Program Manager

Rebecca Benoit

Center for Scholars & Storytellers

Networking

2:30 PM

Break

2:35 PM

Social Impact Award Presentation

Presented by

Creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director (VAMPIRE DIARIES Universe)

Julie Plec

Writer, creator, producer, and director (DAWSON’S CREEK, SCREAM Franchise)

Kevin Williamson

Presented to

Greg Berlanti

Producer, director, and storyteller

Networking

3:00 PM

Break

3:05 PM

Panel

 Masculinity on Screens

Jimmie Briggs

 Journalist and Co-Founder

Man Up Campaign

Gary Barker

President and CEO

Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice.

3:45PM

Panel

Community Building Through Gaming

Alan Gershenfeld

Co-Founder and President

Hubbel Palmer

Writer

A Minecraft Movie (2025)

Kiahna (Kiki) Manker

Creative Producer Associate

Riot Games, Arcane (2021-2024)

Daniel Haun

Sr. Program Manager, Civility and Partnerships

Roblox

Josephson Entertainment, Kiss of the Spiderwoman (2025), Enchanted (2007), Bones (2005 -2017)

Barry Josephson

Hollywood producer and President

Melinda Hsu

Lost (2009-10), Nancy Drew (2019-2023), Tom Swift (2022), The Vampire Diaries (2013-2017)

TV Writer and Showrunner

Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility & Call of Duty Endowment Marketing

Helene Imperiale

Activision Blizzard

Networking

4:25 PM

Closing Remarks

Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors!

Join us in giving young people a seat at the table in media and entertainment to drive social change.

Support our Work

Thank You to Our 2025 Summit Host Committee

Doug Belgrad - Netflix Film

Jennifer Blum - Red House Entertainment

Susanne Daniels - Executive & Professor, UCLA

Channing Dungey - Warner Bros Television Group and US Networks

Tim Federle - High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

Matt Feniger - UTA Entertainment & Culture Marketing

Desiree Flores - UTA Foundation

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein - The Gotham Group

Kelly Goode - Senior Television Programming Executive

George Huang - Writer, Director & Professor, UCLA

Jamila Hunter - MACRO Television Studios

Nancy Kanter - Available Light Productions

Dustin Lance Black - Milk, Rustin

David Miner - 3 Arts Entertainment

Candice Odgers - Professor, UCI

Lynnette Ramirez - Bassett Vance Productions

Mia Riverton Alpert - Red Doors

Alyson Stoner - Camp Rock, Phineas and Ferb

Dennis St. Rose - CAA Foundation