Each week I get to be the "celebrity cartoonist" at our local school district. It started as a friendly invite by my good friend Edward Biagiotti, the Inclusion Specialist for the Culver City Unified School District, to just drop by one afternoon I wasn't busy at work and share some encouragement and drawing tips with his lunch bunch. That was two years ago. My weekly visits to Mr. Bee-Og-Gee-Ot-Tee's lunch bunch is like a trip to the land of the misfit toys, I fit right in. During the lunch periods groups of kids, considered having special needs, get together with Ed for some therapeutic time away from the general population, each group proudly calls themselves the "Lunch Bunch."
As far as what we'll be doing each week I let divine inspiration be the guide. Recently, while cleaning up my home art studio, I was about to toss out a pile of pamphlets I've accumulated when I realized how simply they are put together. "This is great!" I thought, "It's simple, to make a pamphlet. Wait a minute. We can make our own comic books. Real comic books."
This idea of creating something of value struck a cord with even the most disruptive of groups. Matter of fact, one student who just weeks prior was considered troubling to his teachers just got a glowing review. This little guy's enthusiasm to start his own comic book empire has spilled over and brought enthusiasm to every area of his scholastic life.
As far as what we'll be doing each week I let divine inspiration be the guide. Recently, while cleaning up my home art studio, I was about to toss out a pile of pamphlets I've accumulated when I realized how simply they are put together. "This is great!" I thought, "It's simple, to make a pamphlet. Wait a minute. We can make our own comic books. Real comic books."
This idea of creating something of value struck a cord with even the most disruptive of groups. Matter of fact, one student who just weeks prior was considered troubling to his teachers just got a glowing review. This little guy's enthusiasm to start his own comic book empire has spilled over and brought enthusiasm to every area of his scholastic life.
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