Action Into Words memoir with Peggy Rozga

Action Into Words: A memoir of activism
Margaret Rozga
October 1, 2026
WWA Press, 220 pp
Memoir
 
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About the Book

Discover the inspiring journey of Margaret "Peggy" Rozga in this captivating memoir, Action Into Words, brought to life by the Wisconsin Writers Association. A poet, activist, and Wisconsin's 2019-2020 Poet Laureate, Rozga's story unfolds against the backdrop of the 1960s civil rights movement, where she marched for fair housing in Milwaukee and stood alongside icons like Father James Groppi. Through personal triumphs and tragedies-including the loss of her husband and raising three young children-she found solace and strength in poetry. Her words, infused with a passion for social justice and the beauty of everyday life, have touched hearts and sparked change. This memoir is a testament to a woman who turned struggle into song, offering readers a profound exploration of courage, creativity, and community. Join us in celebrating a Wisconsin treasure whose voice continues to resonate. Available from the Wisconsin Writers Association Press.

My Review

Filled with up close and personal views of icons in the Open Housing and Civil Rights movements, Margaret Rozga's frank look at the push for equity from the 1960s voting rights marches with Dr. King in Alabama to Milwaukee, Wisconsin is an eye-opening and sometimes sorry look at how American treat each other. Readers gain special insight into America as Peggy Rozga sets out to make a difference for equal housing opportunities, voting rights, and social justice. Join Peggy as she marches and speaks through poetry and action in this powerful memoir.

About the Author

Margaret Rozga, emeritus professor of English at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Waukesha campus, served as the 2019-2020 Wisconsin Poet Laureate and the 2021 inaugural artist/scholar in residence at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee at Waukesha Field Station. She is the author of six books of poetry, most recently Restoring Prairie and Holding My Selves Together. She has also co-edited four poetry anthologies with Madison poet Angela Trudell Vasquez. She is a member of the Wisconsin Writers Association, the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, and the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, an organization that honored her with their 2026 Mark Twain award. She lives in Milwaukee.