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.