Geeks Unite!
Ignite the hero within! Follow your heroic journey to support the Asian American Pacific Islander Community. By using personal fandoms, you will learn new tools and ways to interact with systems that might not always support a multicultural, diverse, ethnic society. Comic books and pop culture allow us to dream of endless adventures, powers, and possibility. Let’s take these dreams into reality.
Learning Objectives
- Identify key aspects of how mental health care is social justice.
- Describe multiple perspectives within institutionalized oppression, social policy, and intergenerational traumas that affect different groups of people.
- Utilize at least 3 strategies in using geekdom to support AAPI community and BIPOC social justice. **Bonus! References including: iHollaback Bystander Intervention techniques, other nonprofits and ways to support the AAPI community
BOONTARIKA SRIPOM, MA (ENFP, 4W5, NEURODIVERGENT)
LIFE COACH ORGANIZED MESSES
Boontarika Sripom, MA is a therapy-informed life coach. Her work focuses on coaching using archetypes and understanding the cognition of the differently wired, specifically highly sensitive, creative, and gamer folks. She believes knowledge, guidance, and compassion leads to insights, individual acceptance, and empowerment to change.
Boonie is a former preschool teacher, paraprofessional in special education, Outreach Counselor Intern, and College Counselor for creative students. She earned her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Her favorite games are Age of Empires, World of Warcraft, and Minecraft. She is currently playing Fortnite, Animal Crossing, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses. #TeamFelix
Dr. Billy San Juan, PysD
Dr. Billy San Juan is a therapist, writer, and raconteur. He has contributed to the Sterling Publishing line of Popular Psychology books, is a member of creative text teams for Magic: the Gathering, and was awarded the Horror Writers Association "Scholarship from Hell" in 2017.
Dr. Billy is a frequent panelist for conventions including San Diego Comic Con, Wonder Con, LA Comic Con, and Wizard World.
His graduate dissertation examined the influence of trading card game culture on adolescent development. In his free time, he enjoys watching professional wrestling and collecting TCGs.
LORRAN GARRISON (SHE|HER)
CO-FOUNDER LITTLE BRAINSTORM
Lorran Garrison (pronouns: she/her) was raised on the island of Guam in a quirky family made up of Vietnamese, Black, Filipino and many cultures and ethnicities. A licensed School Psychologist, she has her Pupil Personnel Services credential in CA. She also possesses degrees in History and Spanish, a Master’s degree in Urban Policy and Management.
She loves to travel, eat and cook unique foods, read and write comic books, and advocate for those in need. Lorran is dedicated to helping people feel heard through School Psychology and telling stories that break down stigma and create a more inclusive society.