Freedom and Unity cover

Freedom and Unity

A Graphic Guide to Civics and Democracy in Vermont

The Center for Cartoon Studies was challenged by Vermont’s Secretary of State office and Vermont Humanities to create a graphic guide about the past, present, and promise of democracy and civics in our brave little state. Freedom and Unity is the answer to that challenge.

Here in Vermont, freedom isn’t a free-for-all and unity doesn’t mean uniformity. From Town Meetings to cooperatives, and all the way up to the state house, Vermont’s approach to democracy is by turns unique, varied, and inspired.

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We proudly partner with The Norwich Bookstore to sell The Center for Cartoon Studies Applied Cartooning single-issue and educator bundle comics. Please support our local bookstore!

Freedom and Unity page
Freedom and Unity page
Freedom and Unity detail

Editorial & creative team

James Sturm is a cartoonist and co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies; Susan Clark is a town moderator and co-author of Slow Democracy; Kit Anderson ’22 is a cartoonist, print designer, and comics editor; and Glynnis Fawkes is a cartoonist, illustrator, and educator. Research assistance by cartoonist and writer Masha Zhdanova ’23.

Lead cartoonist Dan Nott ’18 is an illustrator, and educator living in Vermont. Dan graduated from The Center for Cartoon Studies and was also the lead cartoonist for CCS’s first graphic guide, This Is What Democracy Looks Like. He is the author of the graphic novel Hidden Systems (Random House Graphic, 2023). You can find out what he’s currently working on Instagram at @dan_nott or visit his website at dannott.com.

Click here to watch the livestream presentation of the project launch provided by Junction Arts & Media.

Over 20,000 free print copies of Freedom and Unity will be distributed by Vermont Humanities, Vermont State House, Vermont Secretary of State’s Office and other partner organizations. To request 10 or more copies for your community organization or group, please write to info@vermonthumanities.org. For single copies, please order direct from the Norwich Bookstore.

A special thanks…

Special thanks to The Office of Vermont’s Secretary of States and Vermont Humanities for making this project possible.

Additional resources

Download a list of resources that help support and nurture democracy in Vermont.

The Center for Cartoon Studies

The Center for Cartoon Studies teaches people how to make comics to help us better understand ourselves, our community, and our world. To learn more about this cartoon college visit: cartoonstudies.org