thank you good morning when I was a child growing up in America I really
child growing up in America I really
child growing up in America I really looked forward to Sundays aside from the
looked forward to Sundays aside from the
looked forward to Sundays aside from the quirky tradition of purchasing lemon
quirky tradition of purchasing lemon
quirky tradition of purchasing lemon filled doughnuts after our Sunday
filled doughnuts after our Sunday
filled doughnuts after our Sunday grocery shopping or watching the reruns
grocery shopping or watching the reruns
grocery shopping or watching the reruns of Saturday morning cartoons the Sunday
of Saturday morning cartoons the Sunday
of Saturday morning cartoons the Sunday newspaper was a momentous occasion in my
newspaper was a momentous occasion in my
newspaper was a momentous occasion in my family showing my age a little bit but
family showing my age a little bit but
family showing my age a little bit but the internet was still in its early days
the internet was still in its early days
the internet was still in its early days so families relied on newspapers and
so families relied on newspapers and
so families relied on newspapers and radio and television stations to know
radio and television stations to know
radio and television stations to know was going on in the world from the
was going on in the world from the
was going on in the world from the upcoming weeks whether to newsworthy
upcoming weeks whether to newsworthy
upcoming weeks whether to newsworthy conflicts and concerns but those were
conflicts and concerns but those were
conflicts and concerns but those were trivial things and I didn’t really care
trivial things and I didn’t really care
trivial things and I didn’t really care about that what I did care about was
about that what I did care about was
about that what I did care about was getting my hands on the sunday funnies
getting my hands on the sunday funnies
getting my hands on the sunday funnies page at the time the political
page at the time the political
page at the time the political insinuations within many of the comic
insinuations within many of the comic
insinuations within many of the comic strips I read were above my
strips I read were above my
strips I read were above my understanding as an only child with a
understanding as an only child with a
understanding as an only child with a large family my cousins and I relished
large family my cousins and I relished
large family my cousins and I relished sharing the sunday funnies and other
sharing the sunday funnies and other
sharing the sunday funnies and other comics like Calvin and Hobbes Garfield
comics like Calvin and Hobbes Garfield
comics like Calvin and Hobbes Garfield and the peanuts simply because they were
and the peanuts simply because they were
and the peanuts simply because they were hilarious and we could laugh at them
hilarious and we could laugh at them
hilarious and we could laugh at them together inspired we told our own
together inspired we told our own
together inspired we told our own stories what a beautiful concept that
stories what a beautiful concept that
stories what a beautiful concept that was as I got older however I found that
was as I got older however I found that
was as I got older however I found that these adult references were not only
these adult references were not only
these adult references were not only something that I could understand but
something that I could understand but
something that I could understand but they really spoke to me these political
they really spoke to me these political
they really spoke to me these political out cries for justice and why they were
out cries for justice and why they were
out cries for justice and why they were so controversial to their time and now
so controversial to their time and now
so controversial to their time and now I’m able to join other chromic artists
I’m able to join other chromic artists
I’m able to join other chromic artists who use their art to bring people
who use their art to bring people
who use their art to bring people together you see art and community or
together you see art and community or
together you see art and community or forms of expression they leave lasting
forms of expression they leave lasting
forms of expression they leave lasting impressions that at times of peace are
impressions that at times of peace are
impressions that at times of peace are the first to be taken for granted both
the first to be taken for granted both
the first to be taken for granted both are always present in the background
are always present in the background
are always present in the background always available until times of great
always available until times of great
always available until times of great conflict or evil suddenly they come to
conflict or evil suddenly they come to
conflict or evil suddenly they come to us as shining beacons in the darkness a
us as shining beacons in the darkness a
us as shining beacons in the darkness a tell us where we belong
tell us where we belong
tell us where we belong I’m a conflict resolution practitioner
I’m a conflict resolution practitioner
I’m a conflict resolution practitioner by profession a comic artist by trade
by profession a comic artist by trade
by profession a comic artist by trade and my background has taught me one
and my background has taught me one
and my background has taught me one crucial lesson for both simply spouting
crucial lesson for both simply spouting
crucial lesson for both simply spouting facts to prove a point
facts to prove a point
facts to prove a point no matter how noble it is no matter how
no matter how noble it is no matter how
no matter how noble it is no matter how important you think it is to the greater
important you think it is to the greater
important you think it is to the greater community at large it doesn’t bring
community at large it doesn’t bring
community at large it doesn’t bring people together it’s quite the opposite
people together it’s quite the opposite
people together it’s quite the opposite actually
actually
actually we are bombarded with information all
we are bombarded with information all
we are bombarded with information all the time from people to things about we
the time from people to things about we
the time from people to things about we read on the internet the things that we
read on the internet the things that we
read on the internet the things that we see on television so much so that we
see on television so much so that we
see on television so much so that we can’t hold it in together and we
can’t hold it in together and we
can’t hold it in together and we experience what’s called information
experience what’s called information
experience what’s called information overload and depending on how upsetting
overload and depending on how upsetting
overload and depending on how upsetting it is depending on how much you really
it is depending on how much you really
it is depending on how much you really care about it we experience compassion
care about it we experience compassion
care about it we experience compassion fatigue so we have to be sneaky about it
fatigue so we have to be sneaky about it
fatigue so we have to be sneaky about it use the way that we see the world into
use the way that we see the world into
use the way that we see the world into the public eye and comics have a really
the public eye and comics have a really
the public eye and comics have a really long and rich history in that regard the
long and rich history in that regard the
long and rich history in that regard the first comic strips came around the time
first comic strips came around the time
first comic strips came around the time of the printing press and yellow
of the printing press and yellow
of the printing press and yellow journalism highlighting satire and
journalism highlighting satire and
journalism highlighting satire and politics with images when literacy was
politics with images when literacy was
politics with images when literacy was not as commonplace as it is today so no
not as commonplace as it is today so no
not as commonplace as it is today so no matter your reading level you would
matter your reading level you would
matter your reading level you would still be able to interpret what the
still be able to interpret what the
still be able to interpret what the image was trying to convey in other
image was trying to convey in other
image was trying to convey in other words comics can be community builders
words comics can be community builders
words comics can be community builders makers and shakers without anyone being
makers and shakers without anyone being
makers and shakers without anyone being the wiser
the wiser
the wiser unfortunately the biggest misconception
unfortunately the biggest misconception
unfortunately the biggest misconception about comics is that it’s low ground
about comics is that it’s low ground
about comics is that it’s low ground entertainment for kids or for people who
entertainment for kids or for people who
entertainment for kids or for people who refuse to see the world as it is in
refuse to see the world as it is in
refuse to see the world as it is in reality comics is a complimentary art
reality comics is a complimentary art
reality comics is a complimentary art form to tell compelling stories that
form to tell compelling stories that
form to tell compelling stories that defines current events you could say
defines current events you could say
defines current events you could say comics breathe life into stories which
comics breathe life into stories which
comics breathe life into stories which are so readily sanitized by the written
are so readily sanitized by the written
are so readily sanitized by the written or spoken word it provides a voice where
or spoken word it provides a voice where
or spoken word it provides a voice where it’s too dangerous to do so out in the
it’s too dangerous to do so out in the
it’s too dangerous to do so out in the open it informs a wide range audience
open it informs a wide range audience
open it informs a wide range audience the realities of an issue they may not
the realities of an issue they may not
the realities of an issue they may not be aware of and perhaps most importantly
be aware of and perhaps most importantly
be aware of and perhaps most importantly it can empower the artists the
it can empower the artists the
it can empower the artists the storyteller of images and words combined
storyteller of images and words combined
storyteller of images and words combined that equally empowers and drives others
that equally empowers and drives others
that equally empowers and drives others to act so I want to take a moment to try
to act so I want to take a moment to try
to act so I want to take a moment to try something and I would like you to brace
something and I would like you to brace
something and I would like you to brace yourself
yourself
yourself let’s go back to my statement that mere
let’s go back to my statement that mere
let’s go back to my statement that mere facts do not instill a call to action
facts do not instill a call to action
facts do not instill a call to action you ready yes fantastic
you ready yes fantastic
you ready yes fantastic in 2015 the National Geographic
in 2015 the National Geographic
in 2015 the National Geographic estimated five and a quarter trillion
estimated five and a quarter trillion
estimated five and a quarter trillion pieces of trash were littering our
pieces of trash were littering our
pieces of trash were littering our oceans it’s been a few years right so
oceans it’s been a few years right so
oceans it’s been a few years right so you can imagine that number has since
you can imagine that number has since
you can imagine that number has since expanded but if that doesn’t really
expanded but if that doesn’t really
expanded but if that doesn’t really speak to you let’s fast forward a few
speak to you let’s fast forward a few
speak to you let’s fast forward a few years in 2017 the gun violence archive
years in 2017 the gun violence archive
years in 2017 the gun violence archive verified 344 separate incidents of mass
verified 344 separate incidents of mass
verified 344 separate incidents of mass shootings across the United States
shootings across the United States
shootings across the United States that’s almost one every day to depress
that’s almost one every day to depress
that’s almost one every day to depress you even further that same year the
you even further that same year the
you even further that same year the missing migrants project reported two
missing migrants project reported two
missing migrants project reported two thousand nine hundred eighty two
thousand nine hundred eighty two
thousand nine hundred eighty two migrants seeking asylum died crossing
migrants seeking asylum died crossing
migrants seeking asylum died crossing the Mediterranean yeah it’s pretty heavy
the Mediterranean yeah it’s pretty heavy
the Mediterranean yeah it’s pretty heavy I can tell but let that sink in those
I can tell but let that sink in those
I can tell but let that sink in those three facts are verified by legitimate
three facts are verified by legitimate
three facts are verified by legitimate sources they’re extremely upsetting and
sources they’re extremely upsetting and
sources they’re extremely upsetting and they’re true and something similar is
they’re true and something similar is
they’re true and something similar is perhaps happening right now at this very
perhaps happening right now at this very
perhaps happening right now at this very moment off the top of my head I can give
moment off the top of my head I can give
moment off the top of my head I can give you names and locations of organizations
you names and locations of organizations
you names and locations of organizations focusing on these specific issues never
focusing on these specific issues never
focusing on these specific issues never mind
mind
mind what else is going on in the world
what else is going on in the world
what else is going on in the world because there’s a lot the amount of time
because there’s a lot the amount of time
because there’s a lot the amount of time and money and additional resources they
and money and additional resources they
and money and additional resources they need to potentially make a difference if
need to potentially make a difference if
need to potentially make a difference if they can and if well reported because
they can and if well reported because
they can and if well reported because sometimes it’s not the people or the
sometimes it’s not the people or the
sometimes it’s not the people or the circumstances involved
or I can give you stories comics worth a
or I can give you stories comics worth a thousand words representing a thousand
thousand words representing a thousand
thousand words representing a thousand voices igniting a fire within us that
voices igniting a fire within us that
voices igniting a fire within us that coming together working together being
coming together working together being
coming together working together being together makes a difference to someone
together makes a difference to someone
together makes a difference to someone somewhere comics are a way of defining a
somewhere comics are a way of defining a
somewhere comics are a way of defining a point in history it’s a way to let
point in history it’s a way to let
point in history it’s a way to let others know that there is someone out
others know that there is someone out
others know that there is someone out there who is quite literally drawing a
there who is quite literally drawing a
there who is quite literally drawing a line in the sand
line in the sand
line in the sand creating satire and spreading
creating satire and spreading
creating satire and spreading information that entertains you to
information that entertains you to
information that entertains you to enlighten you and I use my conflict
enlighten you and I use my conflict
enlighten you and I use my conflict resolution background to tell stories
resolution background to tell stories
resolution background to tell stories like these not only to entertain you but
like these not only to entertain you but
like these not only to entertain you but to educate and express things that are
to educate and express things that are
to educate and express things that are really important to me
really important to me
really important to me environmental activism migration LGBT
environmental activism migration LGBT
environmental activism migration LGBT minority rights I use fiction to tell
minority rights I use fiction to tell
minority rights I use fiction to tell very real in very somber stories with
very real in very somber stories with
very real in very somber stories with alter egos and the characters that I
alter egos and the characters that I
alter egos and the characters that I create there the Superman to my Clark
create there the Superman to my Clark
create there the Superman to my Clark Kent the Miss Marvel to my Kamala Khan
Kent the Miss Marvel to my Kamala Khan
Kent the Miss Marvel to my Kamala Khan the stupendous man to my Calvin comics
the stupendous man to my Calvin comics
the stupendous man to my Calvin comics use fiction to speak truth entertaining
use fiction to speak truth entertaining
use fiction to speak truth entertaining while making voices heard and driving
while making voices heard and driving
while making voices heard and driving people to seek others who share similar
people to seek others who share similar
people to seek others who share similar viewpoints on injustice and fairness
viewpoints on injustice and fairness
viewpoints on injustice and fairness where a character tells another I’m
where a character tells another I’m
where a character tells another I’m sorry it took so long for someone like
sorry it took so long for someone like
sorry it took so long for someone like me coming around to help you with this
me coming around to help you with this
me coming around to help you with this on camaraderie and isolation where a
on camaraderie and isolation where a
on camaraderie and isolation where a newly made couple is reminded that no
newly made couple is reminded that no
newly made couple is reminded that no one should tell you how to grieve and on
one should tell you how to grieve and on
one should tell you how to grieve and on the power of choice and narrative where
the power of choice and narrative where
the power of choice and narrative where at her darkest hour the heroine is
at her darkest hour the heroine is
at her darkest hour the heroine is reminded that she’s not nothing and
reminded that she’s not nothing and
reminded that she’s not nothing and you’re not alone art and community are
you’re not alone art and community are
you’re not alone art and community are intricately linked the very aspect of
intricately linked the very aspect of
intricately linked the very aspect of expression put on paper or online are
expression put on paper or online are
expression put on paper or online are like tattoos permanently describing who
like tattoos permanently describing who
like tattoos permanently describing who you are and what you stand for
you are and what you stand for
you are and what you stand for Marshall said rapping the author of
Marshall said rapping the author of
Marshall said rapping the author of Persepolis said it best I think all the
Persepolis said it best I think all the
Persepolis said it best I think all the changes of the world come from words and
changes of the world come from words and
changes of the world come from words and who’s to say that speech bubbles with
who’s to say that speech bubbles with
who’s to say that speech bubbles with comic a typeface can’t do the same
comic a typeface can’t do the same
comic a typeface can’t do the same because she did and perhaps many who
because she did and perhaps many who
because she did and perhaps many who read comics simply do it for the fact of
read comics simply do it for the fact of
read comics simply do it for the fact of beautiful art mixed with speech bubbles
beautiful art mixed with speech bubbles
beautiful art mixed with speech bubbles to tell great stories there’s nothing
to tell great stories there’s nothing
to tell great stories there’s nothing wrong with that there’s community
wrong with that there’s community
wrong with that there’s community building in the simple act of a group of
building in the simple act of a group of
building in the simple act of a group of cousins sharing the sunday funnies and
cousins sharing the sunday funnies and
cousins sharing the sunday funnies and swapping the mini Calvin and Hobbes
swapping the mini Calvin and Hobbes
swapping the mini Calvin and Hobbes books the grandparents had available
books the grandparents had available
books the grandparents had available there’s community making in including
there’s community making in including
there’s community making in including ethnic and religious minorities as
ethnic and religious minorities as
ethnic and religious minorities as protagonists without stereotyping and
protagonists without stereotyping and
protagonists without stereotyping and there’s community shaking and comics who
there’s community shaking and comics who
there’s community shaking and comics who hold their fists up to politicians and
hold their fists up to politicians and
hold their fists up to politicians and leaders who dare divide us comics are
leaders who dare divide us comics are
leaders who dare divide us comics are for those starved by the lack of hope
for those starved by the lack of hope
for those starved by the lack of hope aching for change a reminder that these
aching for change a reminder that these
aching for change a reminder that these Illustrated and therefore viewing
Illustrated and therefore viewing
Illustrated and therefore viewing justices are neither ok Norville ‘add at
justices are neither ok Norville ‘add at
justices are neither ok Norville ‘add at times of great uncertainty art and
times of great uncertainty art and
times of great uncertainty art and community make meaning they give us the
community make meaning they give us the
community make meaning they give us the medium to determine where we belong and
medium to determine where we belong and
medium to determine where we belong and throughout my life I can say that comics
throughout my life I can say that comics
throughout my life I can say that comics did that for me
did that for me
did that for me so no matter where you are in life I
so no matter where you are in life I
so no matter where you are in life I guarantee that there is a comic telling
guarantee that there is a comic telling
guarantee that there is a comic telling a story by someone who not only wants
a story by someone who not only wants
a story by someone who not only wants you yes you to be understood by the
you yes you to be understood by the
you yes you to be understood by the greater community at large but wants you
greater community at large but wants you
greater community at large but wants you to feel validated and welcomed and like
to feel validated and welcomed and like
to feel validated and welcomed and like a physical community it’s often just a
a physical community it’s often just a
a physical community it’s often just a quick search away art is always present
quick search away art is always present
quick search away art is always present whether in the Sunday newspaper or in a
whether in the Sunday newspaper or in a
whether in the Sunday newspaper or in a comic book that a group of cousins share
comic book that a group of cousins share
comic book that a group of cousins share together and I believe in its power to
together and I believe in its power to
together and I believe in its power to bring us together thank you
bring us together thank you
bring us together thank you [Applause]
”
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