Panelist Shelbi Webb (13) discusses her experiences with bullying, the suicide of many friends and family, as well as issues pertaining to LBGTQ+ individuals, mental illness, and addiction with those she loves. She is now one of the youngest authors in the country sharing her message of hope and healing using her Comic With a Cause, Sugar Glider. In this panel, Shelbi will talk about the superhero of her story, Sugar Glider, and the enlarged empathy she has. The antagonists in the story are personifications of problems kids face such as bullying, suicide, self-image, peer pressure, LGBTQ+ and so many more. Instead of fighting a villian, Sugar Glider helps them to use their newfound power for good. Shelbi talks about therapy and how it has been an influential tool in her healing journey. She wants kids just like her to know that having everyday struggles is not something to be ashamed of and that there is hope and healing for painful issues that happen as children. Shelbi also wants kids to know that speaking about these issues with trusted adults is an important part of the healing process.
