[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 52 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO LOTTIE DOBSON-SHANNON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2009

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Lottie 
Dobson-Shannon.
  Lottie Dobson-Shannon is an educator with the Department of 
Education, Office for Family Engagement and Advocacy. She was born in 
North Carolina and moved to New York at the age of nine. She was raised 
in Bedford-Stuyvesant, in Brooklyn, New York.
  Shannon began her career in 1972 at the Department of Education and 
worked her way to a management position. In 1987, she became the 
Project Director of the New York City Board of Education Mentoring 
Program, where she is still a mentor in the Women in Government 
Mentoring Program. She involved corporate, government, and cultural 
institutions in mentoring young high school students throughout New 
York City. The program thrived under her leadership and became the 
prototype for Matilda Cuomo's statewide mentoring program.
  In 1990, Shannon became the Executive Director for the Parent 
Advocacy Center of Medgar Evers College. She coordinated staff, raised 
funds and developed and conducted an award winning Parent Training 
Institute that was directed at teaching parents skills in advocating 
for their children in the city public schools. The program received 
recognition throughout the state, and from the former Commissioner Tom 
Sobol, New York State Education Department. The Parent Training 
Institute became a model for the development of parent participation in 
programs in Mount Vernon and Hempstead New York.
  Shannon returned to the Department of Education in 1996 as the 
Borough Deputy to the Chancellor (Rudy Crews). She was responsible for 
the development and implementation of projects and assisting the 
Superintendents and Principals in obtaining resources for their 
schools.
  In 2002, Shannon became the Parent Support Officer for District 17, 
Region 6 where she empowered parents, trained them in how to advocate 
for their children, and to learn how to navigate the school system. In 
2007, Shannon became the District Family Advocate for District 22, 
where she continues to empower parents to become parent leaders and 
partners in their children's education. She also conducts professional 
development trainings, seminars and conferences that will develop the 
skills of the parents to become successful leaders in their schools.
  Shannon is also the host/producer of the award winning show, 
``Keeping It Real with Shannon'', a talk show and entertainment that 
began in 1998. The show has aired on Brooklyn Community Access 
Television (BCAT) and various networks for ten years. ``Keeping it Real 
With Shannon'' reflects on a wide variety of topics such as Domestic 
Violence, Police Brutality, Education, Male/Female Relationships, 
Health and Community issues. The show addresses the issues of the 
growing community and promotes local artists as well as professional 
artists. Past guests have included Terrie M. Williams, Publicist/
Author, Bad Boy Michael Baisden, KISS FM Radio Personality Dominic 
Carter, NY1 News Reporter Colleen Babb and Frank Laghezza from the 
District Attorneys' office, legendary R&B singers the late Isaac Hayes 
and Maxine Brown, Baby Washington, The Ink Spots and renowned gospel 
singer Vicki Winan.
  ``Keeping it Real With Shannon'' is the 2002 winner of the National 
Hometown Video Festival Award. It won first place for best in public 
access programming for talk show and entertainment. She was recognized 
for her award winning show with a Proclamation from Brooklyn Borough 
President Mary Markowitz.
  Shannon personifies the qualities of intelligence, endurance, 
compassion, and a strong faith that characterize black foremothers who 
held the family, church, and community together through all 
adversities. Shannon is a woman of distinction who has accomplished 
great professional and educational victories, while maintaining a 
household and rearing a daughter who is a graduate of Morgan State 
University. She strongly believes that Christian fellowship should be 
practiced in all aspects of life. Shannon attended college and obtained 
three degrees, including a Masters.
  Shannon served on the Board of Directors for several Corporate and 
Community Based Organizations. She has won numerous awards and 
citations from national and local organizations including being 
recognized by DA Charles Hynes, the Brooklyn Borough President and NYS 
Governor Mario Cuomo. She was featured on (ABC) ``Like it Is'' with Gil 
Nobles, ``Metro Magazine'' (WYNE), ``The Hotline Show'' (Channel 31), 
``McCreary Report'' (Channel 5), Fox 5-Dayside with Linda Vester and in 
the publications Caribbean Life, Daily News, Brooklyn Paper, New York 
Newsday and Medgar Evers Radio Station.

                          ____________________