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About

Pocket Con
The comic book convention that celebrates characters of color

Pocket Con is a free single-day convention for Chicago youth brought to you by a partnership between the Chicago Public Library, Stomping Grounds LAI, and L O Kari Productions. It focuses on work by artists of color, particularly African American authors and artists, as well as comics with a primary character who is Black. Pocket Con also features work in the comic genre by other underrepresented groups, such as women, Latinos, LGBTQ, and other minorities. We have a strong belief in Indie comics and publishing, and welcome small press and self-published authors as well as those involved in related forms of expression and interest, such as webcomics, animation, small-budget film-making, video game design, and zines.

Our mission for this event is primarily to promote literacy using the graphic novel format, reflect on the history of race and gender portrayal in comics and film, and introduce characters, writers, and authors who have a different voice than the primarily white, primarily male, primarily straight characters written by generations of comic authors (themselves primarily white, straight, and male). We would also like to empower young writers and artists by introducing them to the collaborative process that is comic creation and encouraging them to produce and submit work of their own for contests at the con.

If you are interested in being a vending Artist or workshop leader Contact Elgin Bokari at DJlokari@gmail.com and Kendra Mealy Wilk at kmealy@chipublib.org

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