We Are Civic Media: Movement & Community

Event details Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Location: Online Type: Lecture / Talk / Workshop Department: USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism About this event We Are Civic Media is a panel/talk series rooted directly in the anthology that shares its name and was recently released as open-access. The book and this series treat civic media not as a fixed category of technology, platform or even a practice, but as lived experiences, communities and intent that sustains such civically impactful work, especially in times of adversity. Offering connection and sharing, the series brings together the artists, organizers, designers, and storytellers (some of whom are featured in the book) to explore how media rooted in intention, care, and collective action can move people toward social impact, enduring meaning and connection. Featuring AnnLab's Civic Media Fellows, this speaker series opens up the conversation around what it means to say “we are civic media.” Movement and Community explores the themes of community, collective action, and personal identity, highlighting the joy and strength that can be found in coming together as a community. Featured Panelists: Anu Yadav, actress, playwright, cultural worker and a member of the Center for Performance and Civic Practice and the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. She recently hosted “Getting into Step”, a podcast on building a movement to end poverty, and its interlocking injustices, led by the poor. Erin Michelle Washington, Creative, Scholar, and Waymaker from Montgomery, Alabama, whose work sits at the intersection of art, community, and economic justice. She is the founder of SoulCenter, a creative studio where Black queer/trans/gnc artists ages 18–35 imagine, build, and thrive through storytelling, design, and cultural strategy. She also co-founded the Clarke Street Fund, a legacy-rooted collective advancing art, food sovereignty, and mutual aid; FreshGreens Market, an urban farm and grocery store reimagining food access through justice and joy; and HBCUx, a digital platform connecting HBCU creatives to the resources and futures they deserve. Justino Mora, growth-hacker, self-taught programmer, immigrant rights activist, and taco-lover! In 2009, Justino became an early practitioner and leader in the use of memes, GIFs, short-video clips, and infographics to inform, educate, and mobilize the immigrant community and its allies. He founded and managed several pro-immigration social media accounts that collectively reached between 6 million to 10 million unique visitors every week. Akilah Hughes, creator of award-winning podcasts including What a Day (with Crooked Media), Rebel Spirit, and How is This Better (with Courier Newsroom); and author of the memoir Obviously: Stories from My Timeline. Since 2013, she’s also created and collaborated on videos for HBO, ABC, Comedy Central, and her own YouTube channel, racking up over 100 milli Official event details: https://calendar.usc.edu/event/we-are-civic-media-movement-community