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."

Journeys and Reflections focuses on personal journeys and reflections, with stories of struggles, discoveries, and self-reflection that lead to a deeper understanding of themselves and their commitments to their marginalized communities.

Featured Panelists:
D’Lo, a queer/transgender Tamil-Sri Lankan-American actor/writer/comic. His work ranges solo theater and stand up, tv/film, plays, essays and poetry. He facilitates ‘writing for performance’ workshops, and created the “Coming Out, Coming Home” writing workshop series for South Asian and/or Immigrant LGBTQ Organizations across the nation, which provide a transformative space for workshop participants to write through their personal narratives and share their truths through a public reading.

Nia Lee, an award-winning Black queer conceptual culinary artist, chef, and organizer who intertwines traditional Black American archival foodways with innovative healing practices to craft unique and transformative food-based community experiences. Drawing from their personal experiences with the American justice system, Nia is driven by a deep commitment to upend oppressive structures and create pathways for reprieve and change. They collaborate with change agents, social justice organizations, and community organizers in advocacy and reform, using food as a powerful conduit for mobilization, dream mapping, and community building.

Dr. Bernadette (Bernie) Lim, MD, MS, Founder and former Executive Director of the Freedom Community Clinic, a community-based integrative medicine ecosystem based in Oakland, CA that has brought Whole-Person Healing to 8,500+ people in the Bay and beyond, prioritizing the healing of Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. Dr. Lim's past initiatives include founding the Woke WOC Docs Podcast, Freedom School for Intersectional Medicine and Health Justice, and the Institute for Healing and Justice in Medicine. In her work, Dr. Lim also practices and/or teaches intuitive herbalism, meditation, and hatha yoga.

Qudsiya Naqui is a teacher, legal scholar, and disability media-maker. Her legal scholarship and media work aim to center disability justice and the disabled experience as tools that catalyze transformative cultural, legal, and policy change towards a more just and equitable society. She is currently Assistant Professor at the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law, where she teaches family law and disability law. Qudsiya created, produces and hosts the acclaimed podcast, Down to the Struts—a collection of conversations about disability, design, and intersectionality aimed at uncovering the building blocks for a more just, inclusive and accessible world. She also served as the impact producer for the award-winning, feature-length documentary film, Unseen, chronicling the experiences of Pedro, an aspiring social worker navigating the crossroads of disability, immigration, and mental health.

This program is open to all eligible individuals. USC Annenberg operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

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