[Newark, NJ – February 22, 2016] – This weekend over 600 people attended the Second Annual KHEM COMIC FEST at Central High School, a convention, festival and celebration dedicated to promoting youth literacy and the arts. The convention, which was sponsored by Central High School and PBS Media, featured creators of comics, books, film, video games and other media with an emphasis on people of color.
“The KHEM COMIC FEST gives us an opportunity to celebrate the significant impact that the artistic community has on our culture,” said Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of Newark Public Schools. “It was wonderful to see so many members of our community participate in the KHEM COMIC FEST, and I hope that the events this weekend will give more young people the encouragement they need to express themselves creatively.”
The festival also underscores the importance of popular arts and literature in education. This year, KHEM COMIC FEST integrated Common Core standards into the programming to show how comic books or similar media can be used to communicate lessons in a way that students can relate.
“As the Pre-Engineering Academy Vice Principal, my mission is to stimulate and develop student interest in the various STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines. The KHEM Comic Book FEST provides another medium to achieve this goal,” said Mr. Naseed Gifted, Vice Principal of Curriculum & Instruction, Pre-Engineering Academy, Central High School.
The KHEM COMIC FEST also served as a networking event for professionals and aspiring artists alike. The event featured several workshops dedicated to the arts including comic book workshops, panel discussions and screenings.