Animated Perspectives: Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Animation Industry
Join us for an insightful conversation on bringing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices to the animation industry. Led by former Netflix recruiter now Talent Manager Sam Goff, this session will explore how the stories, characters, and worlds we create for children can shape their understanding of the world—and inspire empathy, curiosity, and inclusion from an early age.
Learn actionable strategies, industry insights, and real-world examples to help studios, creators, and teams craft content that not only entertains but also positively influences young minds. Whether you’re an animator, producer, or industry enthusiast, this conversation will equip you to lead change both on-screen and behind the scenes.
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SAM GOFF BIO
Sam Goff is an independent Talent Manager working across animation, guiding writers, directors, story artists, and
visual development artists as they build sustainable, creatively fulfilling careers.
Sam earned a B.A. in Animation from Loyola Marymount University’s top-ranked School of Film and Television before beginning her career in animation production at DreamWorks Animation. While there, she contributed to major feature and television projects including Spirit: Riding Free, Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, and The Bad Guys. She later joined Netflix’s then-new animation studio, moving into Outreach & Engagement. At Netflix, Sam launched the Foundations mentorship program supporting emerging BIPOC talent, helped lead the Early Career Trainee Program for storyboard and visual development artists, and created the Unlearning Series, an internal DEI initiative celebrating inclusive education and dialogue.
Sam eventually shifted from recruiting to artist management, joining Fourth Wall Management to learn the craft of guiding creative careers. After three years, she launched her own practice. Today, Sam combines the skills of a manager, reverse recruiter, career coach, producer, and sometimes therapist. Beyond her management work, Sam is an active mentor and educator in the animation community. She volunteers with organizations such as BRIC and Women in Animation, frequently speaks on making applications “recruiter friendly,” and teaches her DEI-focused animation course, Animated Perspectives, at Loyola Marymount University.
She lives in Los Angeles with her wife and their six beloved pets.
Lil Bohdi & Me: Mindful Minis Yoga with Alex Reed is a playful yoga adventure for little movers and their grown-ups! Expect lots of stretching, wiggling, breathing, and giggling as kids explore yoga through music, imagination, and fun poses.Together, we’ll move our bodies, calm our minds (just a little 😉), and practice mindfulness in a way that feels exciting and accessible for kids.
This joyful, interactive class is all about connection, creativity, and making mindful memories—no yoga experience needed.Come ready to move, laugh, and flow together 🌈🧘♀️
Join CMA NY on Monday, April 27 at Words on Warren for a special evening with Emmy Award–winning children’s show creator and author, Angela Santomero. From Blue’s Clues to her newest YouTube Kids series Princess Penelope, Angela continues to shape generations of kids through her storytelling.
Angela will discuss her book Preschool Clues, this month’s CMA Book Club selection, and take part in a collaborative conversation about her career, creative process, and what it takes to build meaningful content for young audiences today, moderated by PBS KIDS’ Catie Asip.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 – 5pm PT/8pm ET
Join us for a thoughtful discussion of Preschool Clues by Angela Santomero, which lays out eleven research-backed “clues” to promote preschoolers’ social, emotional, and academic success. We’ll explore the book’s core insights on social-emotional learning, intentional storytelling, and the science behind what truly engages preschool audiences. Hosted and moderated by CMA Book Club Coordinator Cathryn Asip.
We’re keeping the conversation going.
After an inspiring Creator Lab with Nick Reid, we’re diving even deeper—this time focusing on the small shifts that can make a big impact.
Join YouTube expert Marley Diazdelvalle for a tactical session designed to uncover the tips and tricks that often go unnoticed—but can seriously elevate your content and reach. From subtle strategy tweaks to under-the-radar best practices, this Creator Lab is all about working smarter, not harder.Because sometimes, it’s the smallest changes that drive the biggest growth.
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MARLEY DIAZDELVALLE BIO
Marley Diazdelvalle is a New York–based creator with experience on both sides of the YouTube industry, having worked behind the scenes at Frederator Networks and Walt Disney Studios, as well as on-camera as part of the creator-owned channel Toonuki Lab. This dual perspective shapes his approach to content creation and community building.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marley-diazdelvalle-b0713178/
Join CMA for an exciting opportunity to connect with fellow members in a more intimate setting centered around tenure and experience. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there is a group for you! These are casual exploration groups, perfect for finding peers in your career stage.
Mid career: (5+ years) For those with substantial experience who are established in their career and looking to advance or pivot who are not in senior leadership roles.
Join the CMA Bay Area for a moderated discussion on the opportunities and challenges AI presents to the children’s media industry. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or already deep in experimentation, we want your voice in the conversation. This event is open to CMA members and students. Refreshments and beverages will be served.
Location
Infinity San Francisco
Club Lounge
333 Main Street
San Francisco
Transportation
The venue is easily accessible via BART, Muni, and the SF Bay Ferry. Street parking is also available. There are also multiple parking lots in the area, if needed. Please allow extra time for potential traffic and parking if you are driving.
Short-form content is changing the game, and the biggest brands in kids media are on board. Join CMA NY and WIANYC on Thursday, April 30, at SVA for Short-Form, Big Impact: How Top Brands Are Navigating Animated Digital Content.
This lively panel brings together creatives and executives behind today’s most successful animated digital content, including Vera Verba (Director of Content & Programming for YouTube Sesame Workshop), Monica Mazel (Production Manager at Cartuna), and Sammi WS Chan (Designer/Animator at Nickelodeon Digital Studio for Preschool).
From adapting long-form IP into short-form hits, to unpacking the production process behind digital-first animation, and to building stories for fast-moving platforms, we’ll explore how this space is evolving—and what it means for the future of animation.
Please sign up by April 28 to guarantee entry with security, and stick around after the panel to mingle and connect with fellow attendees at a nearby bar.
VERA VERBA is the Director of Child Engagement at Sesame Workshop, where she leads content programming and strategy to connect with young audiences worldwide. Under her leadership the Sesame Street YouTube channel has skyrocketed from 3 million to nearly 30 million subscribers. Vera has forged partnerships with top children’s content creators across the world, expanding the brand’s reach and impact. Outside of work, she loves attending Broadway shows and is currently taking Spanish lessons.
SAMMI WS CHAN is a New York based Designer/ Animator at Nickelodeon Digital Studio for Preschool. She has worked on Nick Jr Youtube properties such as Blue’s Clues & You, Bossy Bear, Dora, Kid Cowboy, and more. Sammi provides graphics support ranging from character designs to motion graphics, to storyboards and animatics. In 2022, her team received the 26th Annual Webby Award for Viral Video on the animated music video “The Blue’s Clues Pride Parade Sing-Along”. In her free time, Sammi enjoys watching anime in Cantonese Dub, working on comics, and spending time with her turtles.
MONICA MAZEL is a Line Producer and Production Manager at Cartuna, where she has spent the past four years leading production on digital-first content for major global IP. Her work focuses on short-form, digital storytelling for platforms and brands including SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and McDonald’s. At Cartuna, she plays a key role in producing and managing projects that reimagine iconic franchises for modern audiences, overseeing production pipelines at every stage from development through delivery.
She began her career in live-action production, working across live broadcast and scripted television, with credits including Hamilton, the Tony Awards, and Orange Is the New Black. She was selected for the highly competitive NBCUniversal Page Program (Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers), before moving into branded content at USA Network and SYFY, where she developed campaigns in partnership with original series. She later transitioned into studio physical production, working as a production coordinator in the feature film departments at Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Studios, respectively. Across roles, her experience spans diverse production work, with a focus on building efficient pipelines, managing budgets and schedules, and fostering supportive team environments, all grounded in a deep appreciation for the collaborative and imaginative world of animation.
Celebrate the arrival of spring with CMA’s first Drink & Draw! Join us at Lavender Lake in Williamsburg for an evening of mingling, sips, and painting, led by children’s media art director, illustrator, and creative producer, Stephanie Six. In this beginner-friendly and process-driven “Spring Floral Watercolor Workshop,” attendees will learn simple watercolor techniques to capture the rich colors and layered petals of spring flowers. No experience needed. Just come ready to create, connect, and have fun!
Stephanie Six is an art director, picture book illustrator, and creative producer. She’s developed original content for PBS Kids, reimagined the classic Colorforms toy line into a Netflix series, and partnered with brands like Apple+, Amazon, and Little Bee Books to bring thoughtful, beautifully designed stories to life. Her most recent projects include WonderPets: In the City! (Apple+), an unannounced Yoto project, and art for the upcoming book series Princess Penelope’s Purse of Proposterous Things (Loyola Press). You can see more of her work at stephaniesix.com.
Join CMA for an exciting opportunity to connect with fellow members in a more intimate setting centered around tenure and experience. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there is a group for you! These are casual exploration groups, perfect for finding peers in your career stage.
Senior/Executive: (10+ years) Designed for senior leaders and executive level professionals.
Digital-first formats and emerging platforms are changing today’s writing landscape as the industry continues to shift away from traditional long-form storytelling. Join CMA NY and WGAE on Thursday, May 14 for a dynamic panel featuring animation writers at the forefront of this evolution. From podcasts and YouTube to gaming and beyond, learn how they’re adapting, innovating, and thriving in this rapidly changing creative space.
Featuring: Alex Breen, Billy Lopez and Monique D. Hall!
Alex Breen
Alex Breen is an award-winning executive producer, writer and series creator with over 20 years’ industry experience as an innovator in the children’s media space. Since founding Breenscreen LLC in late 2023, his company creates, collaborates, and consults with clients and production partners to deliver high-quality, engaging, and impactful children’s TV, gaming, and digital media experiences, most recently with the popular Phoebe & Jay and City Island games suites on PBS KIDS. As the former VP of Interactive at 9 Story Media Group and digital lead at Out of the Blue Enterprises, he led the creation and distribution of over one hundred interactive games, activities, websites, and apps, including for Rosie’s Rules, Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, Let’s Go Luna, Karma’s World, SUPER WHY!, Chuggington and the Colorforms toy brand. On the TV side, Alex is currently a series co-creator and writer for PBS KIDS’ upcoming literacy series Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures (premiering Fall 2026), co-created and developed the hit Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures shorts series, wrote and executive produced Netflix’s 3-part special Charlie’s Colorforms City: Mighty Movie Adventures, developed the Charlie’s Colorforms City series, and wrote the tentpole SUPER WHY! series episode Comic Book: Attack of the Eraser, which went on to play in movie theaters across the U.S. His other TV production credits include the Emmy-winning Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, SUPER WHY!, Charlie’s Colorforms City, Wishenpoof! and Creative Galaxy.
Billy Lopez
Billy Lopez is a three-time Emmy award-winning writer. He created, co-executive produced, wrote, and starred in the animated adventure-comedy Welcome to the Wayne (Nickelodeon), and has written on shows such as South Park, Phineas and Ferb, Sesame Street, Mystery Science Theater 3000. Billy’s also been head writer on award-winning children’s series like City Island, Peg + Cat, and The Wonder Pets, and was most recently series lyricist on the Apple TV show Wonder Pets: In the City. He’s currently adapting a best-selling video game into a musical for the stage. Billy lives in Brooklyn with his family.
Monique D. Hall
Monique D. Hall is an Emmy-winning, Jamaican-American TV writer from New Jersey. As a storyteller for young audiences and families, her words have been brought to life by humans, animated characters, and puppets alike. In addition to writing on Sesame Street, for which she won a 2023 Emmy Award and was nominated for a 2026 NAACP Image Award, Monique currently serves as Executive Producer and Head Writer on the second season of the PBS Kids series Lyla in the Loop.
Monique was a fellow in the inaugural class of the Sesame Workshop Writers’ Room Fellowship. She has a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and she studied Human Development, along with Film and Creative Writing, at Cornell University.
