Awesome Con Artist Spotlight: PBS Media and Art Way Alliance

One of my goals at Awesome Con this year was to find and highlight creatives of color who were engaged in inspiring and interesting pursuits.  There were so many individuals at the convention this year involved in outreach and development.  I was able to sit down with two representatives from a few of these organizations. PBS Media Creative Director Naseed Gifted talked to me about the organization and their new graphic novel PB Soldier, which Gifted created.  The novel is drawn and colored by Abel Garcia. PB Soldier follows Nat Cummings, a hacker turned government operative who finds himself in the middle of an intrigue he must extract himself from before it is too late. Billed as The Bourne Identity meets V is for Vendetta, Cummings’ adventures takes him and the reader all over the world.  We also discuss the importance of representation and connecting youth with the material that they are interested in by cultivating their interest in creating art.  Find out more about their graphic novel and their outreach efforts by visiting their website at www.pbsmediastudios.com. Art Way Alliance Communications Director Sierra Dangerfield-Harris sat down with me to discuss the mission of the nonprofit, it’s diverse artist staff, and the importance of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) to the K-12 educational system and how their organization seeks to promote this creativity in youth of the D.C. area.  If you would like to assist or have their artists visit your venue, information is available at their website at www.artwayalliance.org. I hope you enjoy the interviews with these engaged and talented individuals. %CODE_PBS%