Two words best describe the direction of Cheri Rae’s writing career: worthy causes. After graduating from California State University Northridge with a degree in Political Science, Cheri embarked on a path of good works that blended her desire to make a difference and her considerable editorial skills.

Cheri Rae, Author of DyslexiaLand and Dyslexia Advocate

DyslexiaLand is Cheri’s most recent work, a collection of hard-won wisdom gained over the course of ten years of advocacy for children with dyslexia, beginning with her own son. While serving as a consultant to the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Cheri established a Parent Resource Center, monthly “Dyslexia Dialogues” and a “Distinguished Dyslexic Speaker Series.” She was named a “Local Hero” by the Santa Barbara Independent for her fearless efforts on behalf of students with dyslexia, and awarded a Resolution from the California State Assembly for her dyslexia work.

Prior to moving to Santa Barbara, Cheri enjoyed successful stints as a magazine editor, holding key management positions with such popular lifestyle magazines as Runner’s World, Surfer, California Scenic, and Bicycle Sport. Cheri took up the cause of desert conservation and her maps and books, including Mojave National Preserve: A Visitors Guide, helped rally the public and contributed to a successful campaign that preserved the scenic wonders of the Mojave as national parkland.

In Santa Barbara, Cheri covered the city’s lively political scene as a columnist for the Santa Barbara Daily Sound. In 2009 the California Association of Newspaper Publishers, awarded Cheri first-place honors in the Best Newspaper Column category. Her interest in preserving—and celebrating—Santa Barbara’s unique environment and architecture, led her to pen books about her fair city, including Walk Santa Barbara: City Strolls & Country Rambles and Pearl Chase: First Lady of Santa Barbara.

Cheri continues to work with parents around Southern California (and increasingly far and wide), to help them advocate for their dyslexic children, writes articles, and shares the trials and tribulations of DyslexiaLand as a public speaker. Her dyslexia-related assemblage art has been featured in several galleries.

Cheri lives with her family in a 1912 bungalow in Santa Barbara’s Bungalow Haven, located in the midst of the historic neighborhood district that she helped create through her advocacy.