Sing Out about this UNsung Woman Sponsored by ArtRoots, a Writer in Residence Project January to June 2022 Submitted by Jody Spencer Because she has tirelessly worked as a volunteer for Racine and for the environment, Jody Spencer nominated Mercedes Dzindzeleta as an Unsung Woman’s honoree. “Mercedes deserves recognition for her years of hard and dedicated…
Author: ArtRoot's Racine Writer-In-Residence
The Racine Writer-In-Residence (WIR) project is an initiative founded by ArtRoot, a collaboration of artists and arts advocates who are determined to reinvigorate Racine, WI through the arts. This project is supported by the Racine Literacy Council, and funded through a generous grant from the Osborne & Scekic Family Foundation. Since the pandemic shutdown in March 2020, the WIRs have completed their obligations from home.
This project seeks to spotlight Racine and Kenosha’s dynamic literary community while encouraging, supporting, and advocating on behalf of writers at all stages of their careers.
Abortion foes & more
By Jeanne Arnold The Journal Times reporter pulled it all together: “Gruesome images of aborted fetuses on poster-sized picket boards made it difficult to ignore when pro-life demonstrators of the Missionaries of the Preborn picketed outside Planned Parenthood’s local offices.” Protesting the picketers in Racine in 1979 A Preborn picketer shouted at us: “Murder is disgusting,…
Butterfly kisses
By Jeanne Arnold Little Black youngsters held hands and followed their pre-school teacher up the escalators with a helping adult plus me bringing up the rear. Quiet. Careful. Alert to what was ahead, they and I listened to the teacher on how to enjoy the butterflies and how to protect them. As soon as I…
Diane Wilson
Sing Out about this UNsung Woman May, 2022 Sponsored by ArtRoots, a Writer in Residence Project January to June 2022 Submitted by Nick Ramsey Morning Glory MuffinsDuring the month of May, a great deal of us plan special events to honor our mothers. This May, I’d like to channel my inner bird and sing a…
The last time I saw Paris
By Jeanne Arnold With great expectations early on our first full day in Paris, Cody, Jody and I left our tiny apartment in Montmartre, rode on the Metro, got off at the correct exit and walked under the Eiffel Tower toward residence areas. We wondered if we were lost. Finally we found a quiet storefront…
Being uprooted
By Jeanne Arnold Good morning! I look out the window at our beautiful backyard with vegetables and perennials growing quickly each day. I transplanted perennials last year from my daughter’s garden that came with their house. My yard is art for me. Like a jigsaw puzzle that’s never finished, you always have pieces to fit…
Dancing on their tails
Wild Dolphins off the Hanky Panky By Jeanne Arnold Barbara writes: 3.24 GREAT NEWS!! Boating for Women magazine came in today’s mail and I immediately glanced through it. A short article, “Bahamas—Swim with the Dolphins Project” jumped out at me. What a neat trip! I hollered to J, “Let’s swim with wild dolphins!” Jeanne almost ran to me and…
Samira Gdisis
Sing Out about this UNsung Woman April, 2022 Sponsored by ArtRoots, a Writer in Residence Project January to June 2022 Submitted by Mary Elizabeth Nelson A perfect passion for people and the arts combined with a heart of gold describes Samira Gdisis, recognized as April’s UNsung Woman honoree. Her nominator Mary Nelson writes, “Samira willingly organizes and…
Trauma & other delights
By Jeanne Arnold After my thirteen years working with my beloved people at my local hospital, I moved into The Big Leagues as the PR person for one of Milwaukee’s major hospitals, the Milwaukee County Medical Complex, formerly known as the County Hospital, later known as John Doyne. I started as a one-person new department…
Fateful hours at 3 a.m.
by Jeanne Arnold One Friday night years ago, I entered the emergency room with my camera ready at that fateful hour when the taverns close and the drunks hit the streets. I hung around until 3 a.m. The only emergency incidents that night had to do with anal sphincters—and that was hardly photographic. An elderly…
Racine Writer-In-Residence Project 