Executive

Shawan Dortch is a respected leader in the fields of education, business and humanitarianism. She has served as an educational leader, philanthropist, and mentor to many schools, individuals and charitable organizations. Shawan causes aid in the welfare, growth, education, and development of children, families, and communities. She is affiliated with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Modern Free and Accepted Mason of the World, Inc., and serves as a Special Education Consultant with a State Educational Agency. She holds a bachelor’s in Business Administration and a master’s in the a Art of Teaching. Having over 25 years of experience as a parent, foster parent, educator, and K-12 administrator in education, she is distinctively equipped to provide the engagement and support needed to motivate professional and personal success of individuals, families and organizations. Her lifelong endeavor, with education, includes working toward the justice sought to improve the lives of those afflicted by past or present adverse domestic and environmental factors.

Her passion aroused from being a child raised in the inner city of a large urban community where life was not always ideal. During a time of social struggles, inequality and welfare: family pride, education and stability was enforced. A major household rule implemented by many parents was, “what happened in the home, stayed in the home” and because of that, secrecy became a comrade. For years, being afraid and keeping silent about abuse was normal to protect families and to avoid shame, interrogation and humiliation.

Unfortunately, for most, this scenario is all too familiar.  After breaking her silence and trying to solve her problems privately, she attempted suicide at age thirteen.  This failed attempt at solving problems and ignoring the bigger issues, led her in a direction of learning more about the foster care, health care and the family welfare system.   Many recognized her as a pillar of success despite her adverse conditions. She, on the other hand, knew that after seeking help, emancipating herself at 16, and continuing her education, she would still be looked at as part of the statistics. She became a teenage mother faced with resolving her very own volatile and abusive relationships. She knew that the years of struggles were prevalent in her life and that the pattern of abuse and generational curses needed to end.  She needed to take action, learned the truth about herself, past and present and the “cost of silence.” Through these efforts, she realized that there is tremendous healing by speaking up and being honest about “Self.”  It is important for others to understand that it is not about her alone, it’s about everyone who has been silent.

Now is the time to build a greater awareness to help others understand the cost of silence.  We must join together in our mission to provide education, resources and supports to those who agonizingly live in the “Silent Communities.”