Vanessa Ivy Rose

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Granddaughter of Negro Leagues legend and Baseball Hall of Famer, Norman “Turkey” Stearnes

Vanessa Ivy Rose (she/her) is an author, storyteller and educator from the metro Detroit area. In honor of her grandfather’s baseball legacy, she has hosted ABC’s podcast “Reclaimed: The Forgotten League”, she has been interviewed by various newspapers, podcasts and was featured on Fox Sports Detroit’s “Inside the Tigers: Stars Forever”. She also creates (and hosts) webinars and has spoken at several baseball conferences including the “Detroit Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial” and “Women in Baseball”.

As an athlete, Vanessa has been featured in Sports Illustrated, she played basketball in Barcelona, earned a Division-1 scholarship and her Albion College team is part of the Athletic Hall of Fame. Vanessa has a Bachelor of Arts from Albion College in Communication, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching (Secondary Education: English and History) from Oakland University.

Having taught in public education for seventeen years (in both alternative and traditional schools), she enjoys helping her American Literature and Creative Writing students find their authentic selves through exploring academic writing, media, history and literature. They often remark that she’s like no other English teacher they’ve had previously (due to the fact that she was a collegiate basketball athlete and has a dope sneaker collection). Knowing the importance of building community in order to create meaningful change and to cultivate joy, she also coaches Varsity boys basketball, has been a facilitator for The Institute of Healing Racism and the Student Global Leaders workshop, a member of Global Champions and the Global Education Team. In 2017, she was recognized as a “Diversity Champion” by the Race Relations and Diversity Task Force. With over eleven years of experience in the realm of Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices, Vanessa has decided to use the knowledge she has acquired through learning and unlearning. Writing through a social justice lens, she’s ready to level up when it comes to spreading knowledge and truth.

Get in Touch

Interested in connecting with Vanessa for a speaking engagement, book talk and signing, interview, or other opportunity?

We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line at hofdna@gmail.com or fill out the form on this page.

Thank you for your interest in sharing the legacy of the Negro Leagues! ⚾