The Center For Entertainment & Civic Health presents: “Hollywood and Storytelling in a Divided America”

Leading Creators Unite To Help Combat America’s Growing Polarization Through Entertainment and Groundbreaking Storytelling

The Center for Entertainment & Civic Health, a newly launched Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to a mission of national depolarization through storytelling and entertainment, has confirmed veteran producer Abigail Disney (“The Armor of Light”, “Independent Lens”), writer and executive producer of “The Conners” Dave Caplan, writer Dean Batali (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “That 70s Show”), as well as Korie and Willie Robertson (“Duck Dynasty”, “At Home With the Robertsons”) and many others to join the panel line-up for the Center for Entertainment & Civic Health’s virtual kickoff event: “Hollywood and Storytelling In a Divided America” being held on Saturday, October 16th, 2021, from 10:00am to 1:00pm PST/1:00pm EST to 4:00pm EST.

The event is free, online, and open to the public. Registration is live and interested attendees can secure a virtual seat at the following link: https://bit.ly/cfechcon

“Our country is at a critical moment, and entertainment can play an important role in helping bridge the gap between left and right in America. The Center for Entertainment & Civic Health is a new center of gravity for Hollywood to explore entertainment’s impact on polarization and its potential to foster civic health and pluralist norms,” said Dave Caplan, showrunner for the hit ABC show “The Conners.”

This event, presented by the Center for Entertainment & Civic Health (CFECH), with support from nonpartisan grant maker Civic Health Project and others, marks a first for Hollywood by convening notable content creators, entertainment executives, social scientists, and leading nonprofit practitioners for a candid, cross-partisan exploration of the question: “Can popular entertainment help save a fracturing America?” Through a mix of interactive panels, fireside chats, and ‘hot takes,’ attendees will gain inspiration and insight about how to strengthen a splintering nation. All attendees are encouraged to join the discussion and learn about narrative depolarization strategies and successful case studies from some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names in TV and film.

Some confirmed panelists include: Pete Nicks (Emmy Award-Winning Cinematographer, Producer, & Director), Abigail Disney (Documentary Film Producer & Philanthropist), Dean Batali (Writer & Executive Producer, “That 70s Show,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Eric K. Ward (Executive Director, Western States Center), Lena Slachmuijlder (SVP, Search for Common Ground), Dr. Dave Caplan (Writer & Executive Producer Co-Showrunner, “The Conners”), Dr. Peter T Coleman (Professor of Psychology and Education Columbia University), Shamil Idriss (CEO, Search for Common Ground), Riaz Patel (Executive Producer, Axial Entertainment), Melissa Weintraub (Executive Director, Resetting the Table), Rob Long (Writer & Producer, “Cheers” & Co-Founder, Ricochet), Kristin Hansen (Executive Director, Civic Health Project), Jeff Chao (VP of Finance, Digital Domain), Betsy Levy Pauck (Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs, Princeton University, Macarthur “Genius Award” Winner), Christina Lindstrom (Head of Impact Measurement & Assessment, SIE Society), Yolanda T. Cochran (SVP of Live-Action Long-Form Production, ViacomCBS), Korie and Willie Robertson (A&E’s “Duck Dynasty”+).

To learn more about the Center for Entertainment & Civic Health and to see an updated list of speakers, visit www.cfech.org

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Association) professional member and award-winning, British born and fluent in Spanish, Liz Rodriguez has worked in the entertainment industry most of her life. Predominantly based between Los Angeles and London, with contacts globally, Liz Rodriguez has a portfolio of clients for personal or corporate marketing, branding and PR, as well as full service event management and production. As a feature film publicist, she boasts over 50 film credits to date. She enjoys working with today’s rising stars, and tomorrow’s future faces of entertainment.

Internationally Liz has supervised, and orchestrated, events and press placements all over the world including the Middle East (Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi), Europe, Egypt, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. Aside from her working career, Liz is an active supporter of many LA-based charities including Dogs for the Deaf, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and volunteers her time to Make A Film Foundation, an organization that grants film wishes to children with serious or life-threatening medical conditions.

Follow Liz: EMR Media (est. 2004) www.emrmedia.com – Instagram @iamLizRodriguez – Facebook: www.facebook.com/emrmedia