NBCUniversal Hosts Second Annual Creative Impact Lab Workshop

The Creative Impact Lab harnesses NBCUniversal’s storytelling expertise to give back to the communities where we live and work. The Lab provides grants to nonprofit creative agencies who employ apprentices from underrepresented communities. The agencies are commissioned to produce much-needed marketing assets for nonprofit organizations, who become “clients'' of the Lab. Throughout the process, NBCUniversal employees serve as mentors on the projects, providing creative feedback to the agencies and their apprentices, enhancing their learning experience and helping to prepare them for future careers in the industry.

The Lab Workshop is a one-day in-person training event that brings together the key stakeholders of the Lab for a day of programming and collaboration. Participants spent the day honing their skills in mentorship and storytelling. The Workshop featured both internal and external speakers including Dan Slepian, Supervising Producer for Dateline discussing effective nonfiction storytelling, Phillip Haid, CEO of PUBLIC Inc., focusing on the importance of thinking outside of the box when trying to break through to viewers, and Robin Charles from NBCUniversal’s Talent Lab on best practices in mentorship.  

Throughout the day, attendees also engaged in creative brainstorming activities and collaborative discussions that helped foster tighter relationships between all stakeholders of the Lab. The day culminated in a project working session where attendees were able to apply the learnings from the day’s programming.

“You cannot underestimate the value of in-person connections and stepping away from your day job to hear outside perspectives. That is what the workshop delivered – participants left with creative inspiration and really got to know their project teams. I am looking forward to seeing how the learnings from the Workshop are put into practice!” - Hilary Smith, EVP, Corporate Social Responsibility, NBCUniversal

This year, 18 nonprofit creative agencies and organizations attended the Workshop: Kids in the Spotlight, Youth Beat, Youth FX, PhillyCAM, Pop District, Digital Bodega, RE:IMAGINE ATL, Wide Angle Youth Media, Spy Hop, Young Storytellers, Inner-City Arts, Trust for Public Land, Heights Philadelphia, City Year NY, Turnaround Arts: California, The Knowledge House, LGBT Tech, and NUIFC. They were joined by over a dozen NBCUniversal volunteers who will serve as creative advisors and mentors on their projects:

• Fiorella Agostino - Sr. Creative Producer, Ad Sales  
• Janelle Albino - Sr. Executive Producer, OPCD
• Mimi Belt – VP, Ad Sales Creative
• Nick Bockanick - Director, Brand Marketing UPG
• Eric Carr - SVP, Theatrical Distribution - ITM
• Jae-Ho Chang - Digital Video Producer, Corporate Creative Group
• Raheem Dawson - Director, Creative Advertising Int'l UFEG
• Adrianna Echeverri – Creative Director, DTC
• Aaron Franco – Producer, NBC News
• James Harris – Sr. Creative Writer, Ad Sales  
• Lisa Moxley - Vice President, Business Affairs, UFEG
• Claire-Marie Murphy - VP, Creative Advertising Universal Films
• Yvette Perez – Sr. Creative Director, Ad Sales
• Alexa Pozniak – Coordinating Producer, News Group
• Lauren Ruderman - Associate Producer, Olympics
• Sara Scott - EVP, Production Development Universal Pictures  
• Jonathan Small - Sr. Director, Video Production Corporate Creative Group
• Kristin Wygal - VP Shoots Production Entertainment Networks  

Visit our Newsroom to learn more about NBCUniversal’s Impact work.