Remarkable Women: Rina Risper
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Lansing’s Rina Risper has dedicated decades of her life to telling other people’s stories.
There are many words to describe Risper and devoted is one of them. Risper sat down with 6 News to talk about how she’s giving others a voice, while also being the voice for those affected by violence.
Risper created ‘The New Citizens Press‘ decades ago. Using her degree in Sociology, she is known for adding characters of color to bring life to the pages. She says creating The New Citizens Press is a way to spread multicultural information to the capital city.
Risper is a first-generation American who reflects on seeing firsthand the struggle of starting over in a new country.
“We have this huge opportunity to teach people about each other despite our differences,” said Risper.
Risper says she was a runaway teen on the streets of New York City and held a teddy worn and weather teddy bear with her to keep her company. She says found solace in the public library, and how books saved her.
“I love words. and what I learned very early is that you can dismantle people with words. or you can amplify people with words,” Risper said.
Risper is passing that lesson along as well by giving away more than 15,000 books, dictionaries, and thesauruses over the years. She encourages kids to read and re-shape their vocabulary and wants kids to find the courage to showcase their talents annually through the ‘Poetry in the City’.
It’s one of the best things when you have a child who says they don’t know how to write poetry. and I say, look outside. you see a large tree. I said look through the thesaurus and she said, oh, that’s a magnificent mahogany. I mean it just takes your breath away,” said Risper.
And for those whose last breath was taken away by violence, Rina gives them a voice too by connecting with and amplifying messages from heartbroken family members left behind.
In 2011, she recalls helping bring hundreds of people to the steps of the state capital for a rally to put an end to violence in Lansing following a local man’s murder.
“I was making phone calls like I worked for the CIA I was like, you know what, we need to do this,” Risper said.
That rally was the start of many community conversations and events Risper helped organize, amid growing concerns about violence in the community.
Risper is also recognized for doing more over the years, such as working with local churches to provide free health screenings, supporting domestic violence survivors, helping the homeless, and simply handing out teddy bears to those who’ve never had one.
Much like her printed pages, it’s easy to find words to describe Rina Risper but not as easy to find a woman this remarkable.
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