Convocation Notes #2 (Author Speaking)

Presentation Overview

• Duration: 20-30 minutes, visually engaging slide presentation.
• Content focus: Comics and visual themes related to service and information dissemination.

Slide Presentation Details

• Introduction:
  • Mentioned the purpose of the book and its connection to ongoing nonprofit work.
  • Displayed the cover of the book titled "Advocate" featuring comic panels.
  • Engaged audience with a riddle about what should be on the cover but isn't.

Thematic Background

• Role of Social Media:

  • The book’s creation involved publishing autobiographical comics on platforms like Instagram.
  • Discussion on how social media shaped the publication journey.

• Fast Information vs. Slow Comics:

  • Commentary on the rapid spread of information and disinformation in modern society.
  • Contrast with the slow, careful process of creating comics (20-30 hours per page).
  • Personal reflections on society's overwhelming information landscape using smartphone technology.

Personal Narrative Elements

• Family Background:

  • Grandfather served as a translator during the Korean War.
  • Significant trauma due to family loss when North Korea took control of Kaesong.
  • Grandfather's ambition and failures emphasized, including his immigration to the US and entrepreneurship in liquor retail.

• Childhood in the Liquor Store:

  • Personal anecdote about growing up in the family liquor store in Texas.
  • Competition with larger liquor stores depicted through visual elements in the presentation.
  • Parents' sacrifices for education underscored, aiming for better opportunities for descendants.

Storytelling Techniques in Comics

• Use of Color and Maps:
  • Thematic representation of different life stages using color (e.g., red for childhood, green for college, purple for transitional periods).
  • Maps used to convey the journey and significance of experiences across locations in the US.

Themes and Aspirations

• Generosity and Community Building:

  • Exploration of values like service, community support, and family connections.
  • Reflection on the contrast between immediate versus long-term aspirations for societal progress.

• First Job Experience:

  • Work with AmeriCorps as an after-school program facilitator.
  • Consideration of motivations behind teaching versus law and broader societal impact.

Aspirations and Conflicts

• Parental Expectations vs. Personal Growth:

  • Ongoing dialogue with parents about nonprofit work leading to a cyclical conversation on financial security.
  • Parents' transactional worldview shaped by their experiences in running a business.

• Law School Experiences:

  • Personal journey through law school intertwined with health challenges.
  • Discussion of "golden handcuffs" concept regarding career aspirations and lifestyle choices post-graduation.

Community Activism Focus

• Experiences in Activism:

  • Collaboration with community leaders (e.g., Espanola Jackson) involved in social justice and environmental issues in San Francisco.
  • Narrative discussing the history and significance of Baby Hunters Point.

• Environmental Justice Campaigns:

  • Description of activism against fossil fuel plants and advocacy for renewable energy initiatives.
  • The dichotomy between direct community services and policy change illustrated visually.

Structure and Infrastructure of Law and Environment

• Geographic and Infrastructure Context:

  • San Francisco's geographical size relative to surrounding areas emphasized.
  • Discussion of transportation and infrastructure’s role in connecting communities and implementing clean energy solutions.

• Challenges in Law and Policy:

  • Highlighting that laws are ineffective without community buy-in or belief.

Personal Reflection and Family Dynamics

• Relationship with Parents:

  • Attempts to connect personal journeys with parents, particularly in the context of grandparental legacy.
  • Use of visual storytelling to engage and evoke emotional connections (e.g., using hot air balloon metaphor).

• End of Life Reflection:

  • Acknowledge father's struggles with dementia and the emotional connection between memories of the past and present activities.
  • Observations about family reactions to the storytelling in the book, especially during visits to the grandfather’s burial site.

Closing Thoughts

• Authenticity in Service:

  • Emphasis on the importance of authenticity in personal endeavors.
  • Encouragement for others to pursue work that resonates with their values even outside the nonprofit sector.

• Final Engagement:

  • Reflection on generational connections and understanding through storytelling.
  • Recognition that significant emotional events shape individual narratives.