Pictured here from 11 years ago, The New Citizens Press reporter, Nadine Defensor, a Michigan State University intern who now lives in Malaysia, sat down with Carrie Owens to talk about her career. At the time, she was 76 years old.
TNCPNEWS photo
During the interview, Ms. Owens professed that she was the “first Negro teacher in the Okemos School District.” Below she is 28 years old in a photo taken during school staff photo day. From day one, Ms. Carrie has been an ardent supporter and still has a paper subscription.
Courtesy Photo
By Carrie Owens
Meridian Township Resident
Thank God for bringing Rina Risper, a vivacious young lady from New York to the Greater Lansing community in 1989. I’m still in awe of her love, care, and concern for all people.
I first met Rina at a Breast Cancer Awareness program in the mid-2000s. I found out she had a newspaper and I subscribed immediately. I thought her newspaper, “The New Citizens Press”, was a great resource for our community. It contained something for everyone. I shared with her about Lansing’s NAACP. She joined and became an active member at the time.
Rina has three children whom I cherish. They are all productive adults.
I am still amazed at her high energy and all of the projects in which she is involved.
For example:
• She had “Poetry in the City (formerly Poetry in the Park)” in which she gave everyone (from three years old to 85) an opportunity to share their talents on the steps of the Capitol.
• Each year she recommended students for the Pioneer Civitan Club to participate in our Leadership/Diversity conferences. After the conferences, these students shared with us that their lives had been changed. A number of those students were from families of murder victims.
• She had programs where our admission was a dictionary or thesaurus which she gave to students to help them to be successful in school. What a great idea!
• She collected and distributed over 10,000 books to the community.
• Each year she grew vegetables in her garden and invited her neighbors to harvest and enjoy.
• Since 2011, she has visited and bonded with parents who had lost family members to homicide in the community. As a result, she developed a program at city hall, called “Lansing Stop the Violence,” every year that was appreciated by the parents and Lansing government officials.
• For a number of years, she had a diagnostic program called “State of Our Health Through the Voices of our People” where community members could be tested (free of charge) for blood pressure and several health problems (of which they might have not been aware). At this program, she would have parents of athletes to speak, and attendees listened to some of their concerns. This program served over 1,500 people.
• She helps the homeless and domestic violence survivors.
Rina has also received a few local awards including:
• The Cesar E. Chavez Humanitarian Award during the pandemic.
• The Bea Christy Award honors people who go above and beyond in their neighborhoods.
• And many media awards and proclamations over the years.
More recently as Rina moves The New Citizens Press forward, she has become a member of a national network of Black-owned media, Black Headline News. She collaborates with other media including, AMPTV, ONME News, Texas Metro News, and Black Iowa News.
In keeping with technology, in October 2022, The New Citizens Press launched a vodcast entitled “The New Citizens Press Review” where Rina and others discuss the history and interesting subject matter that might not have otherwise been known.
I have come to know Rina as a dynamic young lady, a partner, a mother, an “adopted daughter,” and – most importantly – a friend! She is gifted, talented, and intelligent, with stamina, stick-to-it-iveness, and courage. She cares deeply about everyone and treats everyone with respect and dignity.
I’m happy Rina Risper is in the Greater Lansing community. Here’s to celebrating more years of The New Citizens Press and the “Power of One” person to make a difference in our community!
Carrie L. Owens is a retired teacher, teacher consultant, professor, and university supervisor. Carrie has been a member of the NAACP since she moved to Lansing in 1964 and she has been active ever since. At 86 years old, she is still advocating for civil rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Top photo: In August of 2012, Carrie Owens attends a TNCP event at the former Creole Gallery in Old Town where dictionaries and thesauruses were the entry fee. Pictured here with Sunnie Risper.
TNCPNEWS photo
Publisher’s Note: Ms. Owens will be 87 in April of 2023. The New Citizens Press is grateful for her support over the years. She has been a great supporter over the years. We also appreciate Diana Popp for assisting Ms. Owens with writing this piece.
Nadine Defensor was a Michigan State University intern at The New Citizens Press about 11 years ago when she first interviewed Ms. Owens. Even though she lives in Malaysia now, we still keep in touch, She just married John Paul after 7 years of dating. The New Citizens Press received a beautiful wooden fan and chocolate as a gift from the groom and bride!
