Lisa G. Anderson

Background

Lisa Anderson was born on June 28, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. She is the daughter of Leonard and Barbara (Moquin) Sytek. Her father was a a steel broker.

Education

Lisa graduated from Macomb Community College in 1989 and from Northwood University in 1995.

Career

Lisa worked in United States Army Tank Automotive Command as a clerk typist from 1982 to 1984, procurement clerk from 1984 to 1989, procurement assistant in 1989 and a contract specialist from 1990 to 1995. She currently retired from United States Tank Automotive Command.

She is also a Christian songwriter, active in Children's Ministry of Zion Christian Church in Troy, Michigan and a public speaker for Macomb Literacy Partners Inc., a program of the Macomb County Library in Michigan.

Her 1990 book Proud to Be Me: Peewee Platypus, tells the story of Peewee, who is embarrassed by his species' configuration of broad muzzle and webbed feet when he begins to explore the world. The other animals laugh at him, but then he meets Professor Peacock, who explains that all creatures are unique and therefore beautiful. The professor introduces Peewee to other unusual animals, such as a giraffe and a flamingo. By the close of the story, Peewee has come to love and respect himself and to appreciate the diversity of nature.

Anderson, a Michigan resident who worked for several years for the U.S. Army as a procurement specialist, has taken the Peewee story to elementary schools and community groups. She receives letters from educators, counselors, and children with disabilities telling her about the positive impact Peewee Platypus has had on them.

An accomplished public speaker and author of numerous poems, Anderson is involved in writing a series of books for young readers designed to work in conjunction with the community literacy program "Read to Me." Anderson's title character, Peewee, has become the "spokesplatypus" for the "Read to Me" program, which helps prepare children ages one through five for school.

Achievements

• Public speaker and poet Lisa G. Anderson is a prominent person who is famous as the author of a number of inspirational poems and speeches aimed at celebrating human diversity.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Proud to Be Me, Peewee Platypus

Views

Quotations: "Everyone has the wonderfully unique ability to contribute to our world, no matter how small. I believe little is much when God's in it. I always encourage people to savor each and every moment. We have to celebrate life."

Membership

She is a member of Macomb Literacy Partners Inc..

Personality

Anderson, who was born with cerebral palsy and diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993, is determined to turn the slights and taunts that plagued her own childhood into a positive force for change.

Connections

Lisa married to Charles H. Anderson Jr., a computer program analyst on June 28, 1986.

Father:

Leonard Sytek

Mother:

Barbara (Moquin) Sytek

Spouse:

Charles H. Anderson Jr.

References

• Contemporary Authors