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NEW NARRATIVES TO TRANSFORM THE CRISIS

APRIL 17 & 18, 2025
 

JACK MORTON AUDITORIUM

AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

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THE CLIMATE

DIVIDE

Thank you for joining us!
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Presented in association with the Conflict Transformation Collaborative at Middlebury College

Event Info
Record wildfires, extreme heat, drought, weather, and more. Despite this reality, we are divided and distracted.

How can we shift the climate narrative to build new coalitions and to transform the crisis?

Join us on April 17-18 at the Planet Forward Summit to learn what it will take to turn
discord into dialogue, conflict into collaboration, and opposition into opportunity.

Engage with the experts, advocates, storytellers, and students committed to moving toward a
more sustainable future.
Agenda

PROGRAM
 

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

 

Thank you to our Storyfest judges:

CD Davidson-Hiers
Tik Root
Victoria St. Martin
Phil Frank
Devin Greene
Melanie Wallace
 

Phil Frank
Matt Scott
Darrien Benally
Jake Meyers
Joy Reeves
Fuzz Hogan

 

Gina Murphy Darling - Judging Chair
 

4:00 pm - POSTER SESSION: SUSTAINABILITY AND STORYTELLING and RUTGERS SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY DEMONSTRATIONS


Friday, April 18
8:30 am - NETWORKING & BREAKFAST
805 21st. St. NW, 2nd floor atrium

9:30 am - KEYNOTE
Bill McKibben, Author and Journalist

10:30 am - WORKSHOPS - CLICK THROUGH!
University Student Center, 800 21st St NW

12:45 pm - LUNCH & SWAG
Room 308, University Student Center, 800 21st St NW

GET INSPIRED

Learn why inspirational stories are the most motivational — and effective — to drive action.

GET SKILLED

Learn the very best in communication techniques that you can apply immediately to your environmental communication.

GET MOBILIZED

Learn how you can create a movement for the planet on your campus and in your community.

GET CONNECTED

Connect with leading journalists, policymakers, innovators, and more and apply for exclusive internship and job opportunities.

 4 REASONS TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION 

Sponsors

SPONSORS

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Updates

UPDATES

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Washington, D.C. 20052

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