Janet Kurtz was born in Illinois, raised in Wisconsin and moved to Minnesota where she received her BA in Spanish and Masters in Latin American Studies at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota. After a decade of teaching high school Spanish, she joined the faculty at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, Minnesota. There she created and coordinated the Cultural Thursday series, study trips to Mexico and Spain, Latino festivals and international teacher exchanges. Being bilingual led to translation for Central American refugees, area hospitals, churches and for local immigrants. She is a frequent contributor to Lake Country Journal and Her Voice, two award winning Minnesota magazines. Her favorite place is the family cabin on a remote lake in the Nicolet National Forest.
