Find your community, authenticity, and life-long learning here.
Join Fanlink’s expert-led, multi-week, online fan clubs to learn, connect, and have fun in a safe space where you can be your most authentic self. Harness the superpowers of fandom to build your media literacy, scholarship, and altruism.
Current Fanlinks
Fandom & The 2024 Elections
Dr. Abigail De Kosnik with Josh Saunders
We get it— talking about politics can be tough, especially with family, friends, or colleagues. That’s why our Fanlink offers a respectful, open environment where you can process the whirlwind of election-related news, memes, and conflicting opinions without the fear of judgment.
Join peers who feel the same way you do: scared, hopeful, worried, or curious. Together, we’ll dissect the highs and lows of the 2024 elections.
October 21st through November 18th
Mondays 5:30PM PST / 8:30PM EST
1 hour sessions for 5 weeks (Zoom)
Adults 18+ and teens 13-17 with a supervising adult
Heartstopper &
Queer and Trans YA
Dr. Julia Havard with Juztine Tuazon-Martin
In this fan club-meets-media studies class for teens aged 14-18, we refuse to not “Say Gay.” We say, bring on the gossip, drama, giggles, and sighs of the beloved genre of queer and trans YA that does such important work toward creating more than just worlds. Queer and trans YA genre acknowledges and celebrates us through expansive representations of identities.
Postponed to a later date
Let us know if you're interested by signing up for our mailing list!
Our core values
- We create safe spaces for authentic connection and self-exploration.
- We encourage people to speak and share their ideas with confidence.
- We celebrate representation, diversity, and education.
- We teach healthy habits surrounding social media, self-care, and study skills.
- We believe that learning should be fun.
- We support youths, families, teachers, and communities.
FAQ
- Q: How long is a session?
A: Each Fanlink session lasts one hour, but what you learn, and the people you meet, will stay with you forever.
- Q: How many sessions are in one course?
A: Each Fanlink course comprises five, one-hour sessions, that meet once a week for a total of five weeks.
- Q: How many people are there in a Fanlink course?
A: The more the merrier. One of the goals of Fanlink is to connect people with shared interests. So the more people in the course, the more people to connect with. There is no minimum or maximum number of participants.
- Q: Are Fanlinks in person or online?
A: All Fanlink sessions are held synchronously over Zoom. There are no in person sessions.
- Q: I can’t make the time for these Fanlink courses. Is there an asynchronous option?
A: At this time, no. Fanlink works best when people can connect in real-time. This allows you to gain a sense of belonging while connecting with others who have similar interests. We will be adding new Fanlink sessions in the coming months, and we encourage you to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date and to let us know times that work best for you!
- Q: What if I have to miss one of the sessions?
A: Enrolled participants who can’t make a session will have access to a recording of the session.
- Q: What age group is Fanlink for?
A: Fanlink is for teens and adults! Each curriculum is specifically tailored to one age group or the other. For a specific Fanlink, you can find the age group listed in the description.
- Q: The Election Fanlink says it’s for adults. Can I bring my teen?
A: Of course! We love when parents and children come together. You have been teaching your child every step of the way, and we believe that connecting with your children shouldn’t stop with Sesame Street or Girl Scouts. Fanlink represents the next generation of these storied American institutions - a new way to learn, connect, and grow.
- Q: Who teaches Fanlinks?
A: All lead Fanlink mentors have reached the highest level of education in their field. More importantly, the mentors exude passion and energy, love engaging and connecting with other fans, and have experience teaching, mentoring, and facilitating. To read the specific bios of the mentors, please check out their courses.
- Q: Can I be a Fanlink mentor?
A: If you’re interested in being a mentor, please email us at team@fanlink.club!
- Q: How much does a Fanlink cost?
A: The cost of Fanlinks can be found in their course-specific descriptions. We offer discounts for early sign-ups so we encourage you to sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about discounts, new Fanlinks, and more.
- Q: What if I can’t afford a Fanlink? Do you offer any financial assistance?
A: Yes! We offer financial assistance on a case-by-case basis through sponsorships, donations, and more. Please email us at team@fanlink.club if you need financial assistance.
- Q: I have another question. How can I contact a human?
A: Please email us at team@fanlink.club and we'd be more than happy to help!
Meet our Team
Dr. Abigal (Gail) De Kosnik
Co-Founder and CEO
Fandoms: Star Trek, Star Wars, LOTR, Miami Vice, Beatles, The Hunger Games, The Bear
Josh Saunders
Co-Founder and COO
Fandoms: Fantasty football
Michele Scotto Trani
CMO
Fandoms: Post-apocalyptic YA, Buffy, Pokémon Go, Halloween, Taylor Swift
Dr. Jingyi Li
CTO
Fandoms: Hannibal, Pokémon, Hollow Knight, Mitski
Samantha Kolasa
Operations Manager
Fandoms: Critical Role, DC Comics, Worlds Beyond Number
Dr. Julia Havard
Founding Mentor
Fandoms: Heartstopper
Juztine Tuazon-Martin
Founding Mentor
Fandoms: RuPaul’s Drag Race, Twin Peaks, The Marías
Sunny Stetsyuk
Copyeditor & Social Media Manager
Fandoms: Spider-man, Jurassic Park, The X Files, Bleachers