Shane Desautels MA., M.Div
Director of NewWays Learning and Literacy Consulting
I have worked in education and social services for over 25 years. In 1988 I graduated from Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa. In College I worked as an ESL tutor, tutored developmentally disabled adults, and began a big brother program for children who needed mentors. I spent summers in college traveling around the United States volunteering at shelters and soup kitchens.
In 1989 I went to Washington D.C to work at the Llewellyn Scott Catholic Worker House, a transitional shelter and soup kitchen. Most of the homeless population we served had below basic literacy skills. In addition to soup we provided help with tutoring and basic case management.
In 1990, after graduating with a Master of Arts from The University of Dubuque , I spent several months with the Lakota Sioux at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota where many people had only basic literacy skills with little to no resources to help them.
In 1992 I graduated with a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago IL. Over the next several years I served as pastor of a church in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, worked at St. Catherine’s Catholic Worker House (a transitional shelter for homeless men and women living with HIV/AIDS) and worked for Open Hand Chicago (an organization that provided food and services to people living with HIV/AIDS). This was the most “eye opening” time of my life when I came to better understand the relationship of health, literacy and poverty.
In 1989 I went to Washington D.C to work at the Llewellyn Scott Catholic Worker House, a transitional shelter and soup kitchen. Most of the homeless population we served had below basic literacy skills. In addition to soup we provided help with tutoring and basic case management.
In 1990, after graduating with a Master of Arts from The University of Dubuque , I spent several months with the Lakota Sioux at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota where many people had only basic literacy skills with little to no resources to help them.
In 1992 I graduated with a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago IL. Over the next several years I served as pastor of a church in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, worked at St. Catherine’s Catholic Worker House (a transitional shelter for homeless men and women living with HIV/AIDS) and worked for Open Hand Chicago (an organization that provided food and services to people living with HIV/AIDS). This was the most “eye opening” time of my life when I came to better understand the relationship of health, literacy and poverty.
In 2002 I began teaching Adult Basic Education at the Blue Gargoyle Community Services in Hyde Park Chicago. I worked at the Blue Gargoyle for over 6 years and in that time served as an Adult Basic Education Teacher, Director of the Youth Tutoring and Development Program, Literacy and Volunteer Coordinator of the Adult Learning Program and as Director of the Adult Learning Program.
In 2009 I founded NewWays Learning and Literacy Consulting because I believe that literacy empowers people to be independent, self reliant and to reach their personal goals and full potential.
There is a direct connection between literacy, health and poverty. For people to change their lives they need resources that are accessible and affordable.
I have had many challenges in my life but I always overcame them and moved on. This is only because I had opportunities and doors opened to me. This is not the case for everyone and I believe that for those whom much has been given much is then expected. What I do is not a job but rather it is the way I choose to live my life because I know that I can do better.
In 2009 I founded NewWays Learning and Literacy Consulting because I believe that literacy empowers people to be independent, self reliant and to reach their personal goals and full potential.
There is a direct connection between literacy, health and poverty. For people to change their lives they need resources that are accessible and affordable.
I have had many challenges in my life but I always overcame them and moved on. This is only because I had opportunities and doors opened to me. This is not the case for everyone and I believe that for those whom much has been given much is then expected. What I do is not a job but rather it is the way I choose to live my life because I know that I can do better.
shane_desautels_resume10.pdf | |
File Size: | 312 kb |
File Type: |