Marvinetta Penn
Born and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, Marvinetta grew up in a loving household with parents, Charles and Lynell Woodley, and two brothers. At East St. Louis Lincoln Sr. High school, she was active in student council, the speech/drama team, choir and cheerleading. In 1970, Marvinetta gave birth to her only child, Marco Williams. The following year, she enrolled in Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. After earning a BA in English and Theatre in 1974, she returned to East St. Louis to work as an Urban Planner. She also began course work toward an MA in Mass Communications at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Marvinetta moved to Springfield, Illinois in 1976 and worked as a newscaster WCVS radio. She relocated to Chicago in the spring of 1977 and she taught English and Theatre in Chicago Public Schools for 19 years. In 1983, Marvinetta took her first trip abroad sparking a love of international travel. Starting in the mid 1980s, Marvinetta began her singing career. She is featured on recordings with Redd Holt, Johnnie Ferrin, Crosswind and others. She has worked as a performer in Dubai, UAE and in Singapore. Marvinetta left teaching in 1996 and embarked on several other ventures including communications skills workshop facilitator, speaker, voice over talent, and writer. As a voice over talent, Marvinetta has done commercials for McDonalds, American Airlines, Payless Shoes, City of Chicago, Caterpillar, Chicago Public Schools, and the Discovery Channel.
