June 24, 2019

Using the power of comics to teach teens about the way our government works

White River Junction, Vermont – This Is What Democracy Looks Like, A Graphic Guide To Governance is a 32-page comic book created by The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS). It is the result of a collaboration of educators and world-class cartoonists and is designed to help teachers who are working hard to prepare students to be empowered, informed, and civic-minded.

“It is hard to imagine a more important book to get in the hands of students young and old. Civics, democracy, and cartoons all in a non-partisan approach to raise people’s awareness of the real power that they and their communities hold. A funding opportunity that will pay dividends for years.”  –Max Silverman, Executive Director, Center for Educational Leadership.

Starting on the 1st of July 2019, CCS will be running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to visit schools. CCS instructors will give away comics and work with teachers to help students gain a deeper understanding of how their government works and how they can make a difference in their community and beyond. The first leg of the tour will include schools in Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison, with future legs of the tour branching out into other regions of the USA added as additional funds are raised.

A variety of rewards are being offered to help fund the tour, including: physical and digital copies of the comic book, a teaching resource guide, two-color risograph posters, “Democracy Rules” bumper stickers and tote bags, signed graphic novels by CCS faculty members Jason Lutes and James Sturm, limited edition prints by New Yorker Cartoonist Ed Koren and an original cartoon drawing by master cartoonist Denys Wortman (currently featured in Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms exhibition)

Contributing cartoonists includes Summer Pierre (Eisner-nominee and New Yorker contributor), Hallie Jay Pope (founder of The Graphic Advocacy Project), Nomi Kane (The Nib contributor), publisher and cartoonist Kevin Czap, and James Sturm (author of the graphic novels Off Season and Market Day). Lead cartoonist, CCS alumni Dan Nott ‘18, is currently writing and drawing a book about infrastructure called Hidden Systems for Random House Graphic.

Find out more information about the Kickstarter campaign and all the great organizations that helped support This Is What Democracy Looks Like over on the CCS website: cartoonstudies.org/democracy

About The Center for Cartoon Studies
The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) is America’s premier cartooning school and studio located in the historic village of White River Junction, Vermont. CCS programs include a two-year Master of Fine Arts Degree, one- and two-year certificates in cartooning, and annual summer workshops. Faculty and visiting artists include many of today’s most celebrated cartoonists. CCS has received national acclaim for its work and prominent mention in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and other publications. For more information, visit: cartoonstudies.org.