Curating and Moderating Panel on Graphic Novels and Social Justice at LitFest Pasadena on June 4

I’m honored to be curating a panel for LitFest Pasadena on Saturday, June 4 at 6:15pm. This panel continues my ongoing interest in intersections between the arts and social and environmental justice issues at the local and international levels. “Not Your Momma’s Comics! Graphic Novels Tackle Social Justice, Global Conflict, & More” features Joshua Dysart, a bestselling author who went to Iraqi Kurdistan to talk to refugees fleeing ISIS about their plight, which became the basis for a free graphic novel, “Living Level-3: Iraq,” from Huffington Post World. It is also features Tanya Bjork, who is exploring access to health care and the struggles of our society’s most vulnerable in her comic series, “Havenhurst,” and Brandon Easton, who has won awards for his comics work incorporating issues of sex trafficking and transgender abuse in NYC in the “Watson and Holmes” series, and works to bring attention to African-American speculative fiction creators.

We’ll be at The Carrie Hamilton Theater at the Pasadena Playhouse at 6:15pm.