I was born hard-wired to make things. When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn and New Jersey, I was never without a sketchpad, and I found solace in hours of playing the piano, painting, drawing, and doing any crafts that came my way. At 14, I fell wildly in love with poetry, and that love has lasted a lifetime.

 

When it came to making a living, I first turned to journalism, which got me to the Midwest, where I truly belonged, but I became too involved in the stories I reported. So I turned to grassroots organizing for five years, working in the labor movement, especially on environmental issues, leading a social services coalition, and organizing bioregional congresses. I started, staffed, and helped sustain many non-profits (including teaching myself grant-writing and fundraising) while writing poetry late at night. I loved the meaning and purpose in all this work, but it was hard on my body and soul.

 

Poetry brought me back to school where I discovered a twin calling: teaching, which I ended up doing at the college level for 33 years. This encompassed a decade at the University of Kansas, a stint at Haskell Indian Nations University, and 23 years working one-on-one with MA students -- mostly adult learners --  designing individualized studies at Goddard College. I also started leading community writing workshops.