Let's Talk About Love...

This blog was originally written around Valentine's Day, hence the cheesy title, but I decided to keep it. I meant to post this sooner, but life got in the way. And for some reason I can't change the MUSTAAAAAARD, (shout out to Kendrick Lamar- for those who know, know), colored background, so I'm just going with the flow. Here is the post below:

Let's talk about love. WinC is literally a labor of it. I talked a little about that during my acceptance speech at the 2024 Eisner Award Ceremony when we received the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. But now's as good a time as any to elaborate, especially considering the current political climate in the United States of America. 

You have to love comics, humanity, and community to do what we do. And over the past 12 ½ years, we've watched the industry grow because of that. The amount of historically underrepresented people-  most specifically Melanated Women & Queer Folx - that have entered this industry as fans and as professionals has grown exponentially since we began our first panel series in 2012. To see BBIIMP, (Black, Brown Indigenous, Immigrant, Melanated People), become a part of an industry that seemed inaccessible to them - via fandom participation or professional resources- has been gratifying.

However, to see how our progress as a community and industry is being threatened is devastating, but we won't be devastated. As hard as it is, we are filled with hope and action. WinC isn't going anywhere. If we seem quiet, it's because we're working and resting- both are acts of resistance and revolution. We're continuously working on our mission of equity, sustainability, and restorative justice through the medium of Comic Book Creation and Multimedia Curation. 

We are more focused than ever to galvanize our community. We'll be celebrating cultural months throughout the year by showcasing Comic Book and Multimedia Professionals that we know and love on our Instagram page- check out the daily Instagram posts we did for Black History Month! There will be more blog posts on the website and updates on community resources. In addition, we are planning some very special events this year, both virtually and in-person- more information on that soon. 

Now, I know that I say this continuously, but it's true: NONE of our endeavors would be possible without our members and supporters. They keep us going. Without them, we can't provide what our community needs. We've never received federal funding - that's now impossible - or grants from large corporations; our funding primarily comes from private individuals, grants from local art organizations, and grants from literary organizations. We are a completely community-funded organization. We're also a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, but with the current Administration, we don't know how long we'll have that designation given the work that we do.

To take it back to love, all of the above is love. It's going to be a hell of a fight to keep and sustain what we love. Our survival as a global community depends on it.  But WE are worth it, YOU are worth it. Regardless of how we are being made to feel, we are all in this together; none of us are alone. Let's be present for one another and uplift one another. The year has just begun, and there is so much that needs to be done; it's overwhelming, I know. But we are the change, always have been, and we aren't going to stop now. Not by a long shot. 

-Regine L. Sawyer

Coordinator & Founder