From ComicCon to Cherry Blossoms: Springtime Volunteering with the SJA!
This article was contributed by Pariasr Blackburn.
Attending AwesomeCon – Washington D.C.’s annual ComicCon – as a volunteer for the SJA marked the kickoff of our major events this year, and it was an absolute blast! It was my first time volunteering with SJA, and it was a lot of fun – I learned how to run a booth and conduct a trivia session. With two volunteers per shift, we took turns managing the stand and exploring the diverse array of vendors.
The convention center was huge, and there were probably hundreds of other stands there! I’d been to a ComicCon before, but never one this big. I spent most of my time away from our stand checking out the various art booths in particular. As someone who enjoys drawing on the side, it was a lot of fun to see and speak with people who illustrate professionally, many of whom shared the same interests in anime, manga, and general media as me.
Following AwesomeCon, the SJA hosted two other notable events in April: Sakura Matsuri and Pink in the Park, both celebrating the cherry blossom season. Although I couldn't make it to Sakura Matsuri, I heard it was a resounding success. Our matcha stand proved immensely popular, attracting numerous visitors and generating interest in our classes.
Luckily, I was able to participate in Pink in the Park. From setting up the matcha stand to teaching kids origami, it was an adorable event! Watching children create various animal faces and sakura blossoms filled the day with warmth and joy.
From the excitement of AwesomeCon to the charm of Pink in the Park and the success of Sakura Matsuri, the SJA wraps up another successful cherry blossom event cycle. I look forward to my next opportunity to volunteer. Here's to everyone enjoying the remainder of the spring season!