Out of Her Belly: A Collection of Poems Through the Years (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781979280044)

If I can help somebody ... my living shall not be in vain, are the words by which Dr. Arlene Kearns Dowdy lives her life. Growing up in Eastwood, NC, a small community in the rural south, Arlene had fertile soil for the mysterious! There were wooded areas, three graveyards, and a father, grandfather and uncle who were great storytellers! There were also people who could see and hear the unknown, thus, the background for her first published book, Tales of Eastwood. Arlene has been an educator in public schools for more than 29 years, earning National Board Certification in 2005. She has enriched the lives of thousands of students, parents, co-workers and community members. She has also served as an evangelist for more than 30 years. Her work has helped to change lives of gang members, the homeless, depressed, fatherless, elderly, abused, lepers and others. Arlene has served and inspired people all over America and abroad, along the streets, on public transportation, in parks, coffee shops, prisons, hospitals, and a leper colony, to name a few. She lived and ministered in Alaska and the Middle East, with repeated visits to African and European countries. Her journeys are illustrated with photos, which she uses in her books. She finally married at the age of 50! Christmas night of 2012, Arlene married Liston, a childhood sweetheart, who found her after 31 years! Dr. Dowdy now enjoys a quiet life in South Jersey, writing her poems, books and stories. Arlene's understanding of culture and people is phenomenal! She learned that people are basically the same wherever you go. We all need love, support, and a source of trust, hope, and faith. Rich or poor, these needs are often neglected. Dr. Dowdy's purpose for writing is to inspire the fulfillment of these needs and bring joy to all.