S10 #67 Oct 02, 25

#67 - How Graphic Novels Are Redefining Education in Baltimore | Bmore Transform & GRAPHIC NOVEL FESTIVAL

Bmore Transform and Baltimore’s Graphic Novel Festival take center stage in this episode of The Truth in This Art. Guests Gab Sussman and Victoria Lebrón share how they are reshaping education and community through Bmore Transform’s abolitionist, decolonizing approach and the city’s premier Graphic Novel Fest—celebrating sequential art, uplifting Queer and BIPOC creators, and advancing arts and literacy education across Baltimore.

Sussman and Lebrón reflect on the powerful role graphic novels play in engaging young readers, making literacy accessible, and fostering a love of storytelling. They discuss their work with Bmore Transform—an initiative dedicated to decolonizing education and supporting youth through creative programming, professional learning, and book clubs—highlighting how centering community and equity transforms classrooms and learning outcomes.

The conversation explores how the Graphic Novel Fest was born from a passion for comics and a desire to create a celebratory, dignified space for visual storytelling in Baltimore. For Sussman and Lebrón, education means building community, championing inclusivity, and helping every young person find their voice through the arts—work exemplified by Bmore Transform and Baltimore’s Graphic Novel Festival.

Topics Covered:

How graphic novels build bridges and encourage literacy for diverse learners
The mission and impact of Bmore Transform in Baltimore’s educational ecosystem
Creating inclusive, engaging educational experiences through community-driven design
The story and significance behind Baltimore’s Graphic Novel Festival (Graphic Novel Fest)

Baltimore’s very own Graphic Novel Festival

SAVE THE DATE: October 4, 2025
📍400 S Higland Ave, Baltimore

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
Edited by Daniel Alexis
Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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Creators and Guests

Host

Rob Lee

The Truth In This Art is an interview series featuring artists, entrepreneurs and tastemakers in & around Baltimore.

Guest

Gab Sussman

Gab is an abolitionist educator and restorative justice practitioner with ten years of classroom teaching experience across early childhood, elementary, and middle school settings. In 2015, they were trained as a SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) leader by The National SEED Project, a pivotal experience that deepened their understanding of identity, power, and equity in education. Since then, they have facilitated over eighty workshops and seminars exploring the intersections of education, identity, and justice, while partnering with individuals and groups to build leadership and accountability in school communities. Deeply committed to Baltimore, Gab serves as a Commissioner on the city’s Women’s Commission through the Office of Equity and Civil Rights. They hold a BA in Elementary Education from Loyola University Maryland and an MSEd in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University. Gab lives near Patterson Park with their spouse, dog, and rabbit, and enjoys volunteering at BARCS, watching Hulu, and making the occasional Costco run.

Guest

Victoria Lebrón

Victoria is an abolitionist educator and writer with over a decade of experience in elementary classrooms and nearly twenty years of tutoring students in elementary and middle school. Since 2006, she has written grants for educational and health programs, using storytelling as a tool for equity. Her participation in the 2018 National Diversity Practitioners Institute deepened her commitment to antiracism and abolition in education, while helping her explore her identity as a white Latiné and proud neurodivergent person. Victoria is passionate about labor rights and community organizing, and in 2020, she led colleagues in a groundbreaking campaign to unionize an independent school. She holds a Master of Arts in Elementary Inclusive Education from Teachers College and integrates her values of justice, creativity, and collaboration into her work and life. Based in Mount Washington with her spouse, two children, and mini dachshund, Blueberry, Victoria enjoys cooking, puzzling, and learning Spanish alongside her kids. She proudly celebrates her Puerto Rican heritage and draws inspiration from her vibrant, resourceful communities.