King County’s health department has published innovative and educational comic strips about public health issues for more than 15 years.

The county hires local comics artists to tackle issues such as long term covid, preparing for a natural disaster and how to deal with a failing septic system. 

Meredith Li-Vollmer is the heartbeat behind this popular project, which she founded in 2008.

She says the visual and hand drawn style of storytelling helps make potentially dry information palatable. The county has also found that comics are an effective way to communicate with people who speak English as a second language. In fact, some of King County’s comic books have been printed into more than 20 languages. 

But the program almost didn’t happen. Had  Li-Vollmer listened to her high school art teacher who was unkindly critical of her artwork.

Guest:

• Meredith Li-Vollmer, Risk Communication Specialist at Public Health - Seattle & King Countt

Related stories:

• A comic-book approach to public health. King County's winning formula - KUOW
• King County Health comics

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