The Frames Comic Program is a graphic memoir course designed to guide introspection about our personal and community narratives. In exploring the choices they make in their lives, students become active protagonists and are better able to act and advocate for themselves in the future.
What Makes the Frames Comic Program Unique?
Using comics as a method to court low-literacy and reluctant readers, we help students distill a single turning point in their lives into a short graphic memoir. Working with at-risk and justice-impacted youth as well as currently incarcerated adults and re-entry communities, this course give students the space and tools to tackle personal trauma, develop behavioral health skills, increase self-sufficiency, and become both author and active protagonist of their own stories.
Social-Emotional Development
- Clinically-reviewed curriculum
- Mindfulness and coping toolkits
- Group Narrative Therapy
- Embracing individual potential for growth and change
Student Voice Elevation
- Creating meaningful personal narratives
- Self-advocacy and community building
- Sharing with audiences both local and global
Future Pathway Creation
- Career-connected learning
- Communication, literacy, and
- critical thinking skills
- Publishing and hiring opportunities
Follow One of our Students
Our unique approach targets those most in need: people in prison, underserved communities, and reentry programs. For Jay, who spent his youth in and out of jail and struggling with his own grief, our course became a turning point. Through this program, he transformed his life story into a short graphic memoir, learning to see himself as the hero of his narrative instead of the villain. Jay has now become a Brink instructor.
Student Testimonials
“I feel like this class is my Turning Point. I’m going to change everything from here on out.”
– January 2024
“I never really liked talking about my life until I took this class. I grew up like boys don’t express their feelings, but now I see it’s okay.”
– January 2024
“It’s a place where you can get real with yourself.”
– November 2023
Storytelling as a Tool to Transform Lives
Watch our CEO, Dani Hedlund, tell the story of one student in prison who changed everything for our nonprofit.
Brink would like to thank all the donors who make this program possible:
