Vermont’s brand of local democracy gets the comic book treatment

Nov. 5, 2022  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

A new comic book dives into the details of local democracy, elections and civic engagement in Vermont. Cover art screenshot

With concern over the state of our democracy a popular topic nationally, a statewide nonprofit teamed up with the Vermont Secretary of State and the Center for Cartoon Studies for a creative deep-dive into Vermont’s unique take on democracy and civic engagement. 

The project produced a comic book titled “Freedom and Unity, A Graphic Guide to Vermont Democracy” focused on civics education, local democracy and Vermont’s election process.

“As we approach election day, the state of our civil discourse is in disrepair, and trust in our democratic institutions is at an all-time low,” said Secretary of State Jim Condos in announcing the book’s release on Oct. 27. “I believe that the antidote to these divisive times is civics education, inspiring the next generation of leaders to be invested and engaged in our democratic and civic processes.”

Named with the Vermont state motto – Freedom and Unity – in its title, the comic came together through collaboration among Condos’ office, Vermont Humanities and the Center for Cartoon Studies with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

“By investing in our future voters and leaders, we can work to inspire a new level of civic engagement, from participating in our local town meetings, to running for higher office,” said Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters, who represented the office in the project. “Of equal importance is teaching the next generation how to exchange ideas without vilifying each other. As a nation we need to reinvest in civics education for our youth, and this comic is a small but important step for our Vermont community.”

“Freedom and Unity” was illustrated by a creative team from The Center for Cartoon Studies led by cartoonist Dan Nott, with content input from the Secretary of State’s office and Vermont Humanities.

“Comic books may not be able to save democracy but they can certainly contribute to the cause,” said James Sturm, Center for Cartoon Studies cofounder and “Freedom and Unity” creative contributor. “What better medium is there to engage and inform the public? I couldn’t be more grateful to the leadership of our brave little state for making it happen.”

Vermont Humanities Executive Director Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup points out that the narrative looks to demystify local democracy in Vermont with a realistic explanation. “This book emphasizes all of the different ways that Vermonters can get involved in supporting democracy at the local level, while also not shying away from some of the challenges we face,” he said. “We hope that it inspires Vermonters of all ages to take a role in community governance.”

Copies of “Freedom and Unity” will be distributed to libraries around the state through the Vermont Department of Libraries, and can also be found at the State House and the offices of the partners involved in its creation. It’s also available to download for free on the Center for Cartoon Studies website. The Norwich Bookstore is fulfilling orders for printed copies for $6 each or bulk orders for educators (for example 50 copies for $100).