Sustainable Media Center

Public Events & Forums

Beyond global convenings, the Sustainable Media Center hosted and produced high-profile public forums that engaged parents, policymakers, and civic leaders in urgent conversations about AI, digital well-being, and media trust.

• Taming Silicon Valley: How a Harris Presidency Could Jumpstart AI Policy
  September 19, 2024 – P&T Knitwear Bookstore, NYC
  Featured Gary Marcus (author and technologist) in conversation with Raffi Krikorian (host of Technically Optimistic). The discussion explored the promise and peril of AI and how a Harris presidency might shape the trajectory of U.S. technology policy.
• Raising Resilient Kids in a Digital World
  July 10, 2025 – Mintz, 919 3rd Ave, NYC
  Presented by Vaishnavi J, Founder of Vys, a leading expert in online youth safety and digital wellbeing. This event provided parents with practical strategies for guiding children in a tech-saturated world, covering parental controls, children’s mental health, and digital resilience.
• America’s Information War Comes Home
  March 6, 2024 – New York City
  Featured Richard Stengel (former Under Secretary of State and former Time magazine editor) in conversation with moderator Kanika Mehra, examining how information warfare abroad is increasingly reshaping civic life at home. This forum laid important groundwork for SMC’s 2025 programming.
• Gen Z, Politics, and Social Media in America
  August 8, 2024 – Mintz, 919 3rd Ave, NYC & Online
  Produced with the generous support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Mintz, this hybrid event featured Kurt Andersen (author of Fantasyland and Evil Geniuses) in conversation with Kanika Mehra, a rising Gen Z journalist and political commentator. Together, they explored how young Americans can navigate the intersection of politics and social media to spark systemic change. Andersen examined how falsehoods and inequality have shaped the current landscape, while Mehra highlighted Gen Z’s demand for authenticity, accountability, and real reform in political discourse.
  
  Event details

Together, these forums reinforced SMC’s role as a trusted convener, translating global issues into community-level conversations with measurable public impact, and advancing our mission to build healthier, more accountable digital ecosystems.

Global & National Convenings

• World Economic Forum – Davos (January 2025)
  SMC advanced conversations on youth empowerment and the role of Social Intelligence in countering misinformation.
• SXSW – Austin (March 2025)
  Co-hosted a panel on technology and trust with Sara Fischer, spotlighting intergenerational solutions for building a healthier digital ecosystem.
• TED – Vancouver (April 2025)
  A landmark moment: Deja Foxx delivered a mainstage TED Talk on youth and social media, arranged by SMC. We also hosted two “Future of Truth” Brain Dates and a private dinner convening thought leaders and funders to discuss youth-driven reform.
• NYC Dinner Welcoming Emma Lembke – New York (May 2025)
  Hosted a dinner to welcome Emma Lembke as Director of Gen Z Advocacy, bringing together trustees, Gen Z board members, and partners to strengthen intergenerational collaboration.
• Nexus Global – New York (June 2025)
  Brought together philanthropists and social entrepreneurs, positioning Actv8.Media at the center of youth-led responsible technology reform.
• Clinton Global Initiative – New York (September 2025)
  SMC presented Actv8.Media as a Commitment to Action within the Truth and Information Working Group, gaining traction among leading global funders.
• UNGA Media Week – New York (September 2025)
  Elevated Gen Z voices and shared the Social Intelligence framework with policymakers and international media stakeholders.

Governance & Leadership

• Established the Gen Z Board, expanding youth representation at the highest level of SMC governance.
• Launched a Trustee–Gen Z mentorship program, pairing established leaders with emerging advocates for reciprocal learning.
• Formed the Public Statements Committee, creating a structured process for how SMC engages in public advocacy and signs onto collective actions.

Programs & Initiatives

• Actv8.Media: Positioned as the flagship youth-led initiative for reforming social media, integrating Gen Z advocacy with intergenerational partnerships.
• Social Intelligence Framework: Introduced as a new model to measure and promote healthier, trust-centered digital ecosystems.
• Safe Social Media Working Group: Convened as a coalition to explore a certification “badge” for platforms and brands meeting youth-driven safety and accountability standards.

Media & Advocacy

• Elevated Emma Lembke as a leading national voice on Gen Z digital reform through speaking engagements, media interviews, and Substack Live conversations.
• Issued public letters and statements addressing disinformation, political violence, and social media harms, which received strong coverage and attention.

Partnerships & Philanthropy

• Engaged with major philanthropic networks at CGI, Nexus Global, and UNGA to align funding with youth-driven digital reform.
• Strengthened collaborations with intergenerational allies, academics, and nonprofit leaders to expand SMC’s reach and resources.

These accomplishments mark a major public and leadership breakthrough for the Sustainable Media Center in 2025. From the global stage at Davos, TED, and CGI, to coalition-building with youth leaders and trusted advisors, SMC has established itself as a convener and driver of responsible technology reform.