There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, Or Is There?

Cartooning is a way of life for Matt Ryan, co-owner of Free Lunch Studios in Granby.  As a winner of numerous awards for his illustrations, Ryan also offers classes at his studio.

When Ryan was approached by art teacher Ron Desrosiers from Raymond Hill School in New Britain, to conduct a class on comic book art for his students, he naturally said yes.

Raymond Hill School is a private school run by The Klingberg Family Center, a non-profit that serves children whose lives are affected by abuse and neglect.

“We use the spirit of compassion and giving to help make our healing work possible,” as stated on the non-profits’ website.

The after school director, Bob Romeo, noticed the impact that Ryan had on the students and decided to ask him if he would like to run an after school program for the area’s disadvantaged youth at the school. 

Ryan asked his co-owner, Steve Kanaras, a writer, to help the students produce a comic book collectively.  That was two short years ago when they started the after school program and it has been met with huge success.

The unique opportunity for the students to work alongside this talented team and in the end to produce a real comic, is priceless. 

“The best part is being able to see their final product and their reaction to it,” Ryan pointed out.

Walking off the street and into the classroom, the duo noticed it was not going to be easy with these students.

 “At first you notice the kids’ reception of you, they act kind of tough around you, but by the end, I was actually hugged by one of them,” Ryan said.

It is that kind of reaction that they strive for and are creating new avenues to develop additional programs to reach kids.  As well as the above program they are also conducting lectures on comics for Boy Scout troops.

Kanaras shared their most recent endeavor, “We have been grooming a lecture series for the East Windsor Public School system.”

Locally they have high school interns at their studio, and as I sat there, they rattled off the names of the interns.  Clearly showing the investment of time and personal attention they give to these students.

“Usually a guidance counselor will recognize a student that is interested in the comic art field and suggest them to us,” Ryan said.

Having a positive impact on the community’s youth seems to be the number one theme for Ryan and Kanaras.  I look forward to seeing the growth of this teams’ future successful programs.