Thursday, April 17
8:30 am - NETWORKING & BREAKFAST
805 21st. St. NW, 2nd floor atrium

Morning Session
805 21st. St. NW, Jack Morton Auditorium

9:30 am - OPENING REFLECTION
Trinity Norris, Ilíiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program, University of Arizona

9:35 am - WELCOME: STORIES MATTER
Frank Sesno, Founding Director, Planet Forward
Dr. Imani M. Cheers,  Associate Professor, GW School of Media and Public Affairs

9:45 am - TRANSFORMING CONFLICT
Dr. Sarah Stroup, Director, Conflict Transformation Collaborative, Middlebury College
Dr. Netta Avineri, Professor and Chair, Intercultural Communication, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

10:05 am - EMBRACING NUANCE
Halle Parker, President, Society of Environmental Journalists; Verite News
Kunjal Bastola, Planet Forward Correspondent, Northwestern University
Tik Root, Climate Solutions and Economics, Grist
MODERATOR: Dr. Sarah Stroup, Director, Conflict Transformation Collaborative, Middlebury College

10:25 am - THE LANGUAGE WE USE
Peter Schwartzstein, Environmental Journalist & Researcher
Dre Pedemonte, Planet Forward Intern, GWU

10:30 am - STORYTELLING SCIENCE
Tom Di Liberto, Climate Scientist and Science Communicator
Gabrielle "Gabbi" Ewing, Director of Programming, PBS Digital Studios
Kasha Patel, Deputy Weather Editor for the Capital Weather Gang, The Washington Post
MODERATOR: Dr. Darcy Gentleman, Education Lead, Planet Forward

10:50 am - FEATURING THE TEAM

Break

11:20 am - SEEKING COMMON GROUND IN UNCOMMON TIMES
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
MODERATOR: Frank Sesno, Founding Director, Planet Forward

11:30 am - RESPECTFUL DIFFERENCES
Chelsea Henderson, Author & Director of Editorial Content, republicEn
Hattie Hobart, Chief of Staff, Nature is Nonpartisan
MODERATOR: Jesse J. Holland, Associate Director and Associate Professor at the School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University

11:50 am - DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
Maria Jose Vargas, Planet Forward Correspondent, Middlebury
Maggie Rhoads, Planet Forward Correspondent, GWU
Danny Nicholson, Planet Forward Correspondent, Teesside University
MODERATOR: Dr. Netta Avineri, Professor and Chair, Intercultural Communication, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

12:15 pm - LUNCH 
Carolyn Finney, Author & Artist-in-Residence, Environmental Affairs, Middlebury College

Afternoon Session:
1:45 pm - TED TURNER KEYNOTE CONVERSATION: EMPOWERING NEW VOICES and Q&A
Bilal Motley, Documentary Filmmaker
MODERATOR: Ciara Thomas, Planet Forward Correspondent, Tuskegee University

2:20 pm - DEEP LISTENING
Tyler Dorholt, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, SUNY ESF
Abbey Leibert, Planet Forward Correspondent, SUNY ESF
Brianna El-Quhir, Student, SUNY ESF
Daniel Vera, Student, SUNY ESF

2:35 pm - CENTERING COMMUNITIES
Robyn Iron,  Ilíiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program, University of Montana
Karli Moore,  Ilíiaitchik: Indigenous Correspondents Program, Stanford University
MODERATORS: Ivey Camille Manybeads Tso and Aaron Dye

2:55 pm - THE STORYTELLER'S JOURNEY
Joy Reeves, 2024 Storyfest Winner
Devin Santikarma, Planet Forward Correspondent, Middlebury College
Morghan Manuel, Student, Howard University
MODERATOR: Dr. Imani M. Cheers,  Associate Professor, GW School of Media and Public Affairs

3:20 pm - STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Dr. Allison Tuttle, Sr. Vice President of Zoological Operations, Mystic Aquarium
Frank Sesno, Founding Director, Planet Forward

3:25 pm - NEW HORIZONS
Frank Sesno, Founding Director, Planet Forward
Ellen M. Granberg, President, George Washington University

3:35 pm - ANNOUNCEMENT: The Storyfest Winners!!
Amy Berquist, Vice President, Conservation, Education, and Sustainability, Lindblad Expeditions