Susan Kelly Power facts for kids

Susan Kelly Power (1925–2022) was an American writer and activist. She was a member of the Yanktonai Dakota people. She started the American Indian Center of Chicago. This center helped Native American people.

Early Life

Susan Louise Kelly Power was born in 1925. Her birthplace was the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in Fort Yates, North Dakota. She went to Indian Boarding Schools. Susan faced difficult times at these schools. In 1942, she moved to Chicago for work. She stayed there because of money reasons.

Susan grew up in a big family. She had seven brothers and sisters. Her parents were Josephine and Colvin Kelly. Susan was very close to her sisters. Her mother was one of her heroes.

Her Work

Susan Kelly Power worked in a factory. She also edited legal papers for the University of Chicago Law School. She had jobs at the Museum of Science & Industry, the Salvation Army, and the US Census Bureau.

Power was active in Native American groups. These included the Indian Council Fire. She also joined the National Congress of American Indians. She was the youngest member when it started in 1944.

In 1953, she opened the American Indian Center of Chicago. She spoke at an event there on February 20, 2016.

American Indian Center

Ms. Power and others helped create the American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC) in 1953. They started it in a basement. This center is the oldest urban American Indian center in the country. It helps people find homes and jobs. It also offers social services for Native American people. The center has programs for young people and elders. It also teaches about Native American culture. People can gather there too. The center is located at 3401 West Ainslie Street. AIC was made to help Native families. It helped them move from reservation life to city life.

Center's History

The AIC has always helped American Indians. In the 1950s, many American Indians moved to the Chicago area. This was due to federal programs. One example was the Indian Relocation Program.

Center's Mission

The AIC wants to build understanding. It helps Native Americans and non-Native Americans connect. It also helps different Native American Tribes connect. The center also helps Native Americans succeed in their jobs. It supports their culture and art. It helps keep Indian cultural values alive.

Family Life

Susan Kelly Power had a daughter named Mona Susan Power. She also had a stepson, Douglas Power, and a stepdaughter, Marjorie Mbilinyi. Her grandchildren are Douglas Drew, Alessandra Power, Nnali, Anina, and Lyungai Mbilinyi. Her husband, Carleton G. Power, passed away in 1973.

Books She Wrote

• The Grass Dancer, 1994
• Roofwalker, 2002
• Sacred wilderness, 2014