Gracine's full name is Gracine Camille Maccarrone Ehrlich Dunn. Gracine grew up in a diverse community on the lower east side of New York City until she moved to Queens and later to Huntington, Long Island. There she raised four children. She received a BA in English and an MA in Social Science from Hofstra University. She taught secondary and college English for over three decades. From a very young age Gracine was inspired to be a political and social activist; she was always aware of the injustices she saw around her. While a student at Jamaica High School at the age of fifteen, she became active in the National Conference of Christians and Jews which championed all minorities and stressed the commonalities among human beings. Throughout her life she supported the struggle for civil rights and equal rights for women. She has been a student, teacher, wife, mother, professional singer, performer, painter, poet, author, friend, colleague, jeopardy champion and lifelong scholar. Gracine has a variety of physical conditions which she considers blessings as they continue to test her resilience. So far, so good.