MUSEWRITE PARTNERS

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is an Assistant Professor of English at College of DuPage, where she teaches creative writing and composition courses. Trina produced television news in Chicago and Rockford, and most recently wrote novels for teens. A single mother of two teens and active educator, Trina writes on a variety of social topics. Her young adult novel In Her Skin: Growing Up Trans is a 2017 Rainbow Book List Nominee and Lambda Literary "Lammy" Nominee. Trina served as the advisor of the college literary journal The Prairie Light Review, where her students won the American Scholastic Press Association’s First Place Magazine award four consecutive years during her tenure. She has published poetry, flash fiction, and articles on writing.  For more details visit her website. Follow her on Twitter @TrinaSotira

Ida From Abroad:  The timeless writings of Ida B. Wells from England in 1894 (edited by Michelle Duster)
Includes the newspaper articles of Ida B. Wells from England when she went on a four-month speaking tour to tell the British about the realities of lynching.  Michelle Duster compares her experiences living in the United States to those of her great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells, one century apart. 

Ida In Her Own Words:  The timeless writings of Ida B. Wells from 1893 

(edited by Michelle Duster)
Includes original writings of Ida B. Wells' section of the pamphlet that was written for and distributed at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  She explains how unjustly African Americans were treated at the time.  Michelle Duster compares her experiences living in the United States to those of her great-grandmother, Ida B. Wells, one century apart.

In Her Skin:  Growing Up Trans (by Trina Sotira)
eBook 2012
Paperback release: April 2016
On the outside, Tirzah has everything: a best friend who adores her and the potential of a full-ride soccer scholarship. But to Tirzah none of it matters since she's stuck in the body of a girl. Struggling to hide her feelings for her best friend, Heidi, and fighting to cover up her female body, Tirzah realizes the only path to happiness is to transition. But the change could mean losing Heidi, the scholarship, and her parents' acceptance. When Tirzah starts to live as Troy, Heidi's family forbids the friendship. That's when Heidi goes missing. Troy must find his best friend, and, ultimately, himself. 

Michelle Obama’s Impact on African American Women and Girls  

(Co-edited by Michelle Duster, Paula Marie Seniors, and Rose C. Thevenin)
This edited collection explores how First Lady Michelle Obama gradually expanded and broadened her role by engaging in social, political and economic activities which directly and indirectly impacted the lives of the American people, especially young women and girls. The volume responds to the various representations of Michelle Obama and how the language and images used to depict her either affirmed, offended, represented or misrepresented her and its authors.  It is an interdisciplinary evaluation by African American women and girls of the First Lady’s overall impact through several media, including original artwork and poetry.

Tate and His Historic Dream (by Bernard C. Turner and Michelle Duster)

Tate put off writing his fourth grade history paper until the last minute and would still rather play outside with his friends than work on the paper. While staring blankly at a picture that includes a group of people who made an impact on the history of the United States, he suddenly finds himself interacting with them. Through interesting dialogue and questions, Tate learns how these historic figures worked together or influenced each other. As a result of his experience, he is motivated to learn more and feels that he, too, can make a difference.