 Dr.
Lester Shaw is the founder, Executive Director
and Program Coordinator and oversees all components
of A Pocket Full Of Hope®. He has designed
and implemented programs that combine youth development
with learning strategy preference identification
in an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding.
Targeting children ages 7-19 and their families,
the programs in A Pocket Full Of Hope® assist
young people in exploring the world on their own
terms while developing internal strength mechanisms
to help them deal with adverse environmental factors
such as gangs, drugs, violence, and boredom. Using
music, theatre and dance, Dr. Shaw has made knowledge
about healthy choices, social skills and self-esteem
accessible to help youth develop character and
leadership. He holds an Oklahoma teacher certification
with 22 years of teaching experience. He has conducted
and managed similar drama therapy-based programs
and is a certified case manager and chemical dependency
consultant. For 5 years he was an employee of
Family & Children's Services in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He worked as a Family Relations Specialist where
he facilitated daily youth enrichment groups and
conducted management training programs. He organized
workshops and seminars. He recruited and supervised
professional and support staff. He coordinated
alternative education and life-skills awareness
activities for youth exposed to risky behaviors
and for the families living in the Tulsa housing
complexes. Dr. Shaw launched a comprehensive vocational
assessment and career development program to help
single parents prepare for career opportunities.
Other areas of expertise included parent skills
training, computer literacy tutor, and crisis
interventionist.
In addition to working as a Family Relations Specialist,
Dr. Shaw worked for 2 years as a Chemical Dependency
Technician and Outreach Coordinator for Metropolitan
Tulsa Substance Abuse and counselling Services
in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He assisted clients through
stabilization and detoxification in a 30-bed impatient
facility. He conducted client intakes, assessments,
plans for treatment, discharge, and individual
counselling. He served as the primary interventionist
for substance abuse related issues and crisis
intervention at 13 public housing sites in Tulsa.
He provided outreach and conducted drug education
groups daily among low-income and at-risk individuals
and their families. He arranged alternative activities
on and off the public housing site to promote
healthy living.
Dr. Shaw has been an educator for over 22 years
teaching pre-school to adult age students. He
is an adjunct professor for the University of
Oklahoma. He has organized special interest groups
to develop a new curriculum that would address
the learning disparities of the lower achieving
students. He is a supporter of the teacher-centered
learning environment and an advocate for youth
in transition to adulthood. He has developed an
extensive network among social service providers
and educators, which promotes wide acceptance
and utilization of A Pocket Full of Hope®
programs.
Dr. Shaw is a certified trainer and facilitator
for the National Center for Fathering. He conducts
weekly developmental training sessions with fathers
of all ages to help facilitate personal responsibility,
commitment and change.
He has a Bachelor's degree in Music Education
from Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina,
a Master's degree in Human Relations with an emphasis
in counselling from The University of Oklahoma
and a Doctorate in Occupational and Adult Education/Human
Resource Development from Oklahoma State University.
His awards include first place for his singing
performance at the Apollo Theater in New York
City. He received first place for an original
script at the Gwendolyn Brooks Creative Writers
Conference at Chicago State University. He was
also selected by the Tulsa Chapter Links Association
as their 2004 person of the year for his contributions
to the arts. He is a 2005 Jefferson award recipient.
He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and
the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
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