Cathleen Schandelmeier is the originator of the "Beach Poets" series at North Avenue Beach in Chicago, which has been running for the last seven years. Beach Poets was featured on "Wild Chicago" (Chicago's PBS weekly television series) in February of 1997, in a cover article of the Chicago Tribune's Tempo section on June 3rd of 1996, and in the Chicago Sun-Times, also in June, 1996. In addition to her weekly summer series on the beach, she hosted the Underground Press Conference in 1996 and a poetry series at School Street Cafe in Chicago. She was also a host of "Venue", Chicago's first television poetry talk show.

Cathleen is the author of three books of poetry: "Tattoo Screams of Love" (a combination of poetry and prose soon to be released by Puddin' Head Press), "Scream and I'll Believe You", and "Suck on My Toes and I'll Follow You Anywhere". "Tattoo Screams of Love" is based on Cathleen's one-woman show, which premiered at the Chicago Actors Ensemble in February of 1994 and was directed by Kate Harris. It later went on for a six-week run at Cafe Voltaire in Chicago, where it was directed by Jean Vanier, and had shorter runs at Penny Lane in Boulder, Colorado and the Metropolitan Cafe in Aspen, Colorado. It was also performed at the Mary Arrchie Theater in Chicago in March and August of 1995. She has performed her work in Ireland, Scotland, and across the US.

Cathleen holds a Bachelors Degree in Theater from Northeastern Illinois University. She has written numerous children's plays, including "Santa Girl", "Kooky Keaton the Cat", and "Sandy and The Circus", which focus on such themes as prevention of child abuse and attempt to bridge the cultural and racial gaps in our society. Her plays have been performed at the Organic Theater, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Playwrights' Center and The Coronet Theater. Schandelmeier is listed in "Marquis' 1997 Who's Who in the Midwest". In 1994, she won a Certificate of Leadership in Racial Justice from the YWCA in DuPage County, Illinois. She has been awarded the title "Outstanding Leader in Peace" from the Peace Museum in Chicago. She was an Adade Wheeler Award Nominee for Significant Contributions to Women's History in 1995. She did video work for the 1996 International Society to Prevent Child Abuse & Neglect's Biannual World Congress in Dublin, Ireland. Schandelmeier works for the Illinois Arts Council through their Artist in Education program teaching playwrighting and puppet-making. She also teaches for the Chicago Children's Museum and the Chicago Park District.

Cathleen is the proud mother of Vincent James Schandelmeier, who was born on May 18, 1991.

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