On Thursday, July 31, Shine Global, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning nonprofit media company dedicated to improving children’s lives through storytelling, partnered with the Hollywood Reporter to host a Changemaker Salon at the Amagansett home of founders Albie Hecht and Susan MacLaury. James Lane Post joined as a local partner. The intimate evening brought together a curated group of creatives, changemakers, and visionaries for cocktails, conversation, and a candid discussion on the power of film to inspire real-world change.
The gathering also served as the first in a series of celebrations leading up to Shine Global’s 20th anniversary, which will culminate in a celebration at City Winery in New York City on September 30. The event will bring together filmmakers, philanthropists, educators, and advocates to honor the power of narrative in transforming children’s lives.
The evening opened with remarks from Shine Global Co-CEO and Executive Director Francile Mullen, who reflected on the organization’s two decades of child-centered filmmaking. She highlighted Shine Global’s ability not only to capture children’s stories on film but also to ensure those stories fuel advocacy, education, and change.
The centerpiece of the night was a special conversation with co-founders Albie Hecht and Susan MacLaury, moderated by Shine’s Partnership Lead, Kate Kelley. Together, they recounted the early days of Shine Global, when the idea of impact storytelling was still largely uncharted territory.
“I love kids. I love being a dad. I love being a granddad. I love being a coach. And my work was always around that,” said Hecht, former President of Entertainment at Nickelodeon.
Hecht recalled traveling into conflict zones to document the lives of child soldiers while navigating the dangers of unsafe lodging and unpredictable conditions. These early projects revealed the complexities of Shine Global’s mission: not only telling powerful stories but also confronting the challenges of building trust, capturing truth, and creating films that could move audiences to action.
MacLaury reflected on her background as a social worker and educator, which shaped Shine Global’s philosophy of coupling filmmaking with educational outreach.
Throughout the evening, the co-founders shared defining moments from Shine Global’s two decades of filmmaking. From “War/Dance” (2007), which followed Ugandan children overcoming the trauma of war, to “The Harvest” (2011), exposing the hidden lives of child migrant workers in the United States, Shine Global’s films have consistently amplified children’s voices while driving advocacy.
“Children are always the collateral damage, and they never have a say in what happens to them,” said MacLaury.
One particularly powerful story recounted during the discussion was how “The Harvest” was screened at the U.S. Capitol, alongside advocates who used the film as a catalyst to push for policy reforms benefiting child laborers.
Similarly, Shine’s Oscar-winning short “Inocente” (2012), about a homeless teenage artist, has gone on to inspire countless students and continues to serve as a teaching tool in classrooms nationwide. “I remember showing it to a group of maybe a hundred sixth graders in a theater,” said Mullen, a former education director. “They were quiet. One of them shushed another. You don’t see sixth graders being quiet. And they watched the full film and could see themselves finding hope.”
One of Shine Global’s most distinctive approaches has been to let children speak for themselves. “If you watch our films, we really push them forward. They talk to the camera. That was our first instinct. And it really makes an impact when you hear their voice talking directly to you,” said Hecht.
This ethos has not only shaped Shine’s filmography but has also helped spark wider conversations about how media can give agency to marginalized voices, particularly children who are often left voiceless in global crises.
As Shine Global looks to its future, the organization is preparing for its milestone celebration. On September 30 at City Winery in New York City, Shine Global will host its 20th Anniversary Celebration — a night of film, storytelling, and recognition for those who have advanced its mission.
Guests can expect moving stories from Shine Global’s past film subjects — including Inocente herself, now a celebrated artist and advocate — as well as sneak previews of upcoming projects. The gala will also raise crucial funds to support Shine’s next chapter, ensuring that the organization can continue to tell urgent stories.
As Shine Global steps into its third decade, the organization remains rooted in its founding vision: to tell stories that improve children’s lives and to amplify voices too often silenced. “Film has the power to emotionally connect with people in a way nothing else can — to move them from empathy to action,” said Hecht.