Karen E. Dabney, BFA from The University of Michigan, BA from the University of Detroit Mercy, & PhD from The School of Hard Knocks.  Publications as author, artist, & producer include:The YoungStars Series: I am a YoungStar & I Love Me Some ME!, I am a YoungerStar and I Love Me Some Too!, StarLeader Guidebook!; The Magic Pencil Series: The Magic Pencil novel, its Curriculum Guide, & Black Language Glossary; 44th Barack H. Obama The Commemorative Edition, Michigan Chronicle, For My People newspaper, Journal of Non-White Concerns, The University of Michigan Institute for Social Research Newsletter, The University of Michigan Dearborn's The Michigan Journal, To the Poet in You, I Said It... and I Meant It, Jenga; & Necessary Roughness, The Elephantom in the Room: a psychological tail, Splendor for Your Vendors, I WAS Raped & I ReMEmber, Trues Stories by Survivors of Sexual Assault. I am working on completing & publishing Recognize & Revoke Passive Permission.  Karen attended writing workshops with Voices of Our Nation's Arts Foundation (VONA) & Hurston/Wright Foundation. Memberships include: Detroit Weriters Guild, International Reading Association, Gifted in Michigan, Michigan Association for Gifted Children, National Association of Teachers of English, The University of Michigan & University of Detroit Mercy Alumni Associations, Urban Theater Magazine/Concept East, National Conference of Artists, The Southern Poverty Law Center, Motown Writers' Network, Broadside Poets' Theatre, & Detroit Unity Poets' and Authors' Society.  Karen feels she was born with a pencil in her hand. She wrote & illustrated her first "real" book, Unhappiness Is, at 14 years of age. The book sheds a comedic light on everyday situations & challenges & is appreciated by all who have read or listened to it. She has recently released an updated version where the reader will be able to do the illustrations! Karen is the owner of Dabs & Company; an organization dedicated to promoting literacy & keeping minds 'lit'.

I'm a little bit Artsy & a little bit Administrative! Put them together and they make me a creative creator!
I have owned my small business Dabs & Company since 1978. I am currently attending courses and working with organizations to better my skills.
I am hoping to use being a woman, A minoritized person who is handling special "gifts" which I plan to continue exercising.
As mentioned above, I have college degrees in Graphic Design & Legal Administration. I also possess a Paralegal certificate.
My awards are mostly the joy & satisfaction of a job well done. I especially enjoy working with youth when I don't have to be "the authoritarian" & be seen as a treat.