Panelists include a group of directors, writers, and film subjects from films in this group.
Moderator: Charmion Kinder. Charmion N. Kinder is a master communicator, social impact advocate and corporate responsibility strategist with nearly 20 years of experience in executing influencer campaigns that promote transformational change for the next generation of American leadership. As the founder and chief impact officer of CNKinder, Inc., a social impact consultancy, she works tirelessly to help organizations find their voice, inspiring youth to pursue their grandest visions and dreams along the way.
Recently, as the Head of Global Public Relations for Global Citizen, Charmion planned, advanced and directed media relations strategy for the organization's social impact, advocacy and policy-focused initiatives. This included the organization's two campaigns that coalesced the philanthropic, government and business communities to pledge $6.9 billion, in an effort to support global frontline healthcare workers and make COVID-19 treatments accessible in the fight against the global pandemic.
A former White House press aide to First Lady Michelle Obama, Charmion previously served the Obama Administration as a public affairs appointee within the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Commerce, and believes that “service is the rent we pay for life.” Her work has also included executing strategic communications management for organizations including: The Walt Disney Company, Discovery Education, Edelman, the Ad Council, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), America Coming Together (ACT), Special Olympics and SEIU.
Charmion’s work as a change agent began after graduating from the Howard University School of Communications. She hails from New Haven, CT, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and enjoys empowering communities of promise through mentorship in her spare time.
Panelists include:
Amar Chebib, director of JOE BUFFALO is a Syrian-Canadian filmmaker. Chebib began making videos while growing up skateboarding in the Middle East. He has since made award-winning short films, commercials, and a feature documentary about three Syrian refugee musicians. Amar resides with his wife on unceded Coast Salish Territory in Vancouver.
JOE BUFFALO. A direct descendent of Pitikwahanpiwiyin (Poundmaker), Joe Buffalo is from Maskwacis, Alberta and a member of the Samson Cree Nation. Joe is a residential school survivor, having attended one of Canada’s last standing residential schools for five years. Residential schools were part of a government institution that is now recognized as a form of genocide. Skateboarding has helped Joe overcome trauma and adversity throughout his life by helping him focus on a positive activity, one that not only kept him busy, but also challenged him to grow. Now pro for Colonialism Skateboards, Joe is using his story and abilities to inspire a new generation of First Nations’ skateboarders.
Omar Vigueras, director, BLACK LIVES MATTER is a designer, 3D artist and animator. He graduated at the University of Granada and completed his MA in Animation at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. Omar has always been fascinated by videogames and their creation, and enjoys playing a variety of games. Omar has a personal interest in the entire filmmaking process and enjoys watching, analyzing and researching different films. Omar currently works as a game designer and animator at Hopster, the preschool learning and entertainment platform.
Scott A. Galeski, Director, HUMAN RACE ISM, is a retired police detective from Detroit, MI who specialized in the investigation of crimes against children and received the Presidential Call to Service Award, presented by President Barack Obama. Galeski combined his law enforcement skills with filmmaking talent, is now an award-winning independent filmmaker and founded the Downriver Detroit Student Film Consortium, which works with students to produce student films.
Jeff Rudkin (THE TRUTH OF BEAUTY) teaches at Lora L. Batchelor Middle School in Bloomington, IN and uses video production to develop students' lifelong research skills. Rudkin’s students have created documentaries, newscasts, PSA’s and filmed interpretations of classic literature including a documentary about WW II veterans and Holocaust survivors. His students have garnered over 600 state, national, and international awards. Rudkin was named a Lowell Milken Center Fellow in 2012.
Panelists include a group of directors, writers, and film subjects from films in this group.
Moderator: Charmion Kinder. Charmion N. Kinder is a master communicator, social impact advocate and corporate responsibility strategist with nearly 20 years of experience in executing influencer campaigns that promote transformational change for the next generation of American leadership. As the founder and chief impact officer of CNKinder, Inc., a social impact consultancy, she works tirelessly to help organizations find their voice, inspiring youth to pursue their grandest visions and dreams along the way.
Recently, as the Head of Global Public Relations for Global Citizen, Charmion planned, advanced and directed media relations strategy for the organization's social impact, advocacy and policy-focused initiatives. This included the organization's two campaigns that coalesced the philanthropic, government and business communities to pledge $6.9 billion, in an effort to support global frontline healthcare workers and make COVID-19 treatments accessible in the fight against the global pandemic.
A former White House press aide to First Lady Michelle Obama, Charmion previously served the Obama Administration as a public affairs appointee within the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Commerce, and believes that “service is the rent we pay for life.” Her work has also included executing strategic communications management for organizations including: The Walt Disney Company, Discovery Education, Edelman, the Ad Council, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), America Coming Together (ACT), Special Olympics and SEIU.
Charmion’s work as a change agent began after graduating from the Howard University School of Communications. She hails from New Haven, CT, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and enjoys empowering communities of promise through mentorship in her spare time.
Panelists include:
Amar Chebib, director of JOE BUFFALO is a Syrian-Canadian filmmaker. Chebib began making videos while growing up skateboarding in the Middle East. He has since made award-winning short films, commercials, and a feature documentary about three Syrian refugee musicians. Amar resides with his wife on unceded Coast Salish Territory in Vancouver.
JOE BUFFALO. A direct descendent of Pitikwahanpiwiyin (Poundmaker), Joe Buffalo is from Maskwacis, Alberta and a member of the Samson Cree Nation. Joe is a residential school survivor, having attended one of Canada’s last standing residential schools for five years. Residential schools were part of a government institution that is now recognized as a form of genocide. Skateboarding has helped Joe overcome trauma and adversity throughout his life by helping him focus on a positive activity, one that not only kept him busy, but also challenged him to grow. Now pro for Colonialism Skateboards, Joe is using his story and abilities to inspire a new generation of First Nations’ skateboarders.
Omar Vigueras, director, BLACK LIVES MATTER is a designer, 3D artist and animator. He graduated at the University of Granada and completed his MA in Animation at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. Omar has always been fascinated by videogames and their creation, and enjoys playing a variety of games. Omar has a personal interest in the entire filmmaking process and enjoys watching, analyzing and researching different films. Omar currently works as a game designer and animator at Hopster, the preschool learning and entertainment platform.
Scott A. Galeski, Director, HUMAN RACE ISM, is a retired police detective from Detroit, MI who specialized in the investigation of crimes against children and received the Presidential Call to Service Award, presented by President Barack Obama. Galeski combined his law enforcement skills with filmmaking talent, is now an award-winning independent filmmaker and founded the Downriver Detroit Student Film Consortium, which works with students to produce student films.
Jeff Rudkin (THE TRUTH OF BEAUTY) teaches at Lora L. Batchelor Middle School in Bloomington, IN and uses video production to develop students' lifelong research skills. Rudkin’s students have created documentaries, newscasts, PSA’s and filmed interpretations of classic literature including a documentary about WW II veterans and Holocaust survivors. His students have garnered over 600 state, national, and international awards. Rudkin was named a Lowell Milken Center Fellow in 2012.
