“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

Last week, I had the privilege of visiting Tenderloin Community School (TCS) to read to 5th grade students. As an avid comic book reader in my childhood, I couldn’t pass up the chance to read the students - Being a Superhero.

The book was fitting and covered important lessons of teamwork and never giving up! 

The Tenderloin is fundamentally about resilience. It is home to 3500 children and having a safe space for our youth to connect, play, and learn is essential. As a proud resident of the neighborhood, the students inspired me in the hope and joy present in our community every day - a testament to the incredible work of teachers and staff at TCS. 

On the theme of reading, this past weekend was also independent bookstore day! District 5 has a number of independent bookstores, each offers a unique atmosphere carefully designed to share the world’s stories. 

As someone who struggled to read growing up, comics were my gateway to reading for many years, and continue to bring me joy to this day. I’ve been a subscriber to Comix Experience’s Graphic Novel Club for a couple months now, which you can sign up for here too. My staff visited Comix this weekend and picked up a copy of Drawing the Vote, a graphic novel for young voters illustrating the history and challenges of democracy in the United States.