Pop Culture Hero Coalition aims to end bullying by relating to students through pop culture examples

by Rachel Koertner

Do superheroes exist in real life? The Pop Culture Hero Coalition is proving that they do. This organization works to help kids connect with a superhero. For example, they show kids that Batman went through childhood trauma, but that he made the choice to heal and eventually help others, so they can too. The group believes in the power of helping kids understand their emotions and how to communicate them. They also believe that connecting kids with heroes helps the victim as well as the bully. The organization wants to show kids that they can be real-life heroes.

The story behind the Pop Culture Hero Coalition starts in 2010, when a 7-year-old girl named Katie in Evanston, Illinois, was bullied. The kids in her class said she couldn’t have a Star Wars backpack and water bottle because Star Wars was for boys. Carrie Goldman, Katie’s mom, went online asking for support, and within days 82,000 people viewed the post, with thousands of those people sending messages of support.

One of those people was Star Trek actress Chase Masterson. For two years she had been at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles mentoring people coming out of gangs, so the need to help others was already in her heart. When Masterson reached out to help Katie, it was the start of Masterson and Goldman working together to end bullying.

Working towards this goal, Goldman decided to write a book. She interviewed a few people for her research, including Masterson. Her book, “Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher and Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear,” was published in 2012. It received countless awards and glowing reviews. Now, Goldman has become one of the country’s leading keynote speakers and teachers on ending bullying.

In 2013, Masterson and Goldman founded the Pop Culture Anti-Bullying Coalition and created the first-ever panel on ending bullying at a pop culture convention. Since then, the organization has continued to grow. It changed its name to the Pop Culture Hero Coalition, and was approved for nonprofit status.

The organization takes lessons on bullying and connecting with a hero to many schools, but especially the ones in need. For example, they came to the aid of the kids that were traumatized by the San Bernardino mass shooting. In addition, they have worked hard to create a school curriculum called The Heroic Journey. According to their website: “Using examples [from] critically acclaimed television, comics and film, which children and teens find relatable and accessible, the Coalition’s pop-culture-savvy clinical psychologists and experts have developed a comprehensive, thirty-two lesson plan curriculum.” The group has worked hard to bring this curriculum to schools over the last few years.

Katie was bullied in the first grade and is the inspiration for Pop Culture Hero Coalition.

Pop Culture Hero Coalition

On top of all these programs, the Pop Culture Hero Coalition stepped up to the plate during this pandemic in two major ways. First, they created content and support for those struggling during this time of social distancing and quarantine. Some of the programs include: “Resilience is my Superpower,” “When Social Distancing Becomes Social Isolation” and “Managing Family Conflict.” They realized that issues of depression, anxiety, shame, loneliness and fear are exacerbated during this crisis, so their psychologists and educators created these mental health support tools.

Second, they put out a call for cosplayers and costume creators to make “shields” (masks) for healthcare workers. This is strictly volunteer based, and they are asking people to help make masks for physicians, and others who need to be out working in this time. They are rallying their “pop-culture-savvy” followers to help in this country’s time of need, and they are doing their part to provide much-needed items.

People can get involved with Pop Culture Hero Coalition by helping to create masks, buying the curriculum, spreading the word, subscribing to their newsletter and of course donating. Also, all of the proceeds from their “Be Kind” products support the work of increasing mental health skills and ending bullying, and this merch has been worn by many celebrities. More information can be found on their website at popculturehero.org. CBS News said: “[The] Pop Culture Hero Coalition is turning fantasy into the real world, with justice and heroism.”