HHS Program Specialist & President of the National Federation of the Blind for DC

Washington, DC 20018

(202) 352-1511

Callaway.Shawn@gmail.com

Linkedin.com/in/shawn-callaway-06223745

Shawn Callaway is a locally acclaimed disabilities advocate, motivational community leader, and currently a Program Specialist for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. For more than 23 years, he has leveraged his own experience, professional career, and personal time toward helping others to overcome obstacles that are highly attributed to the attitudes, misconceptions, and perceptions of what it means to a person with disabilities. In his current position as a Program Specialist, Shawn manages grant programs that focus on establishing innovative opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. Shawn has also dedicated a portion of his professional career as a Social Worker, currently for the Columbia Light House for the Blind, and previously for the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and the Catholic Communities non-profit organization. In these roles, Shawn worked with consumers struggling with a variety of conditions related to vision loss, mental health, or addiction. He facilitated peer support groups and helped them gain access to resources to assist them in having the best quality of life.

Shawn is familiar with having unexpected circumstances and life-altering events that impacted his life moving forward. After graduating from high school, Shawn planned to obtain a BA degree from South Carolina State University. Unfortunately, in 1991 Shawn was involved in an accident that caused him to become permanently blind. But Shawn did not allow his circumstances to hold him back. A few years after the accident, he entered the Workforce Technology Center (WTC) in Baltimore, MD and obtained independent living skills, assistive technology training, and Braille reading training. His efforts at WTC became the catalyst to propel Shawn forward in pursuing higher education degrees including his associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s, as well as his licensure in Graduate Social Work.

In 2011, Shawn was elected President of the National Federation of the Blind of the District of Columbia and in 2016 he was elected to the NFB National Board of Directors. Shawn is inspired by the NFB’s mantra “You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.” This quote has motivated Shawn to continue his efforts in helping others live the lives they want to, in upholding multiple leadership positions and affiliations to give back to his community. Within the NFB Shawn is Chairman of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, President of the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders, and Chairman of the Blind Greek and Masonic Group. He has served as Chairman of the DC State Rehabilitation Council and as previous Boards for the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind and the D.C. Center for Independent Living. Shawn is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and the Fort Stevens Lion’s Club. In addition, Shawn’s influence can be heard on Takoma Radio 94.3 airing every first and third Monday of each month. Shawn is a co-host of the radio show titled “Open Our Eyes” which focuses on the inclusion of persons with disabilities within our society. In 2016, Shawn received a citation from U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, for his leadership in bringing awareness to the needs of the blind community regarding employment. Shawn currently resides in Washington, D.C. with his lovely wife of 18 years Latonya Callaway, raising their 9-year-old daughter, Camille.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS:

Licensure: Licensed Graduate Social Worker

A.A. in Psychology I Essex Community College I 1995

B.A. in Psychology I University of Maryland College Park I 1997

M.S.W. in Social Work I Catholic University of America I 2000

Raymond C. Smith, Jr was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and graduated from Spingarn Senior High School. He has worked with several corporations which helped him to develop his skill and flair for business and working with people.

Affectionately known as Coach Ray to many parents, students, and others in the community even after many years of no longer coaching or playing football; he has coached students from the Greater Metropolitan area out of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington DC known as the Potomac Valley Blue Devils Youth basketball team.  He was the founder of The Youth Track Foundation.  Many of his former players have gone on to become leaders in their communities as well as reaching NFL and NBA status.

After becoming blind in 2007, attendance at the Blind Industries School in Baltimore, Md. helped create a new vision and purpose.  This led to becoming an advocate for the community of the disabled.  He has traveled across the nation meeting with congressmen, U.S. Senators, and other legislators.  He takes pride in having the opportunity to fight for equality and justice for disabled citizens.

He is a board member of several organizations: Co-chair of Ecumenical Health Council of the PTHC Partnership; Board member of the Maryland State Independent Living Council; Commissioner for the Prince George’s County Department of Aging; Mental Health and Physical Disabilities, and the Inclusion Division of Maryland’s Commission for Parks, Planning and Recreation.

I believe in the inclusion of all person in all venues.   The disabled community is made up of a group of individuals with amazing capabilities.  This is why I continue to seek positions that help me to assist the disenfranchised.

Rochelle Harrod is a native Washingtonian born and raised in the Petworth and Deanwood neighborhoods She is the middle child of 3 children born to Bruce and Denise Harrod. At the age of one, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy,spina bifida and hydrocephalus.She holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Trinity Washington University.

Rochelle never allowed her disability to hinder her personal ,career, or educational goals. In her spare time, she loves to sell Avon, and Partylite Candles. She is Ms. Wheelchair DC 2006, who is very passionate about showing individuals how to navigate the system and get the services they need.

For the last 15 years, as a Prince Georgian she has served as an Independent Living Specialist for the Residents of Prince George’s County at Independence Now . Rochelle is also an advocate in her community. She serves on the board of Just 4 Us Foundation, which is a non-profit that provides community enrichment activities for at risk youth and individuals with special needs in DC and Prince George’s County.In addition,  now she is now an Ordained Elder at Word Faith Church of Jesus Christ in Riverdale, Maryland where she helps to organize events, and resources for persons with disabilities.

Biography of Charles Vernon Taylor, Sr.

My name is Charles Vernon Taylor, Sr. My father loved his church so much that he named me after the church, i.e., Mt. Vernon Baptist Church. | was born in 1950, in the rural Mississippi Delta. More specifically, | was born at the gateway to the Mississippi Delta in Yazoo City, Mississippi.

During my formative years, 1955-1958, | attended St. Francis Catholic School. From 1958 to 1964, | attended public school in Yazoo City. In 1964, my family moved to the State’s capitol, Jackson, Mississippi. My high school years were spent in Jackson. | graduated from Sam M. Brinkley High School in 1967. After graudating from high school, | was elated to follow in my two brothers footsteps and enroll in Tougaloo College. | graduated in 1971.

My first real job after graduating from college was with the Mississippi State Department of Public Welfare. | was a Program Development Specialist. This job was very rewarding and it was my first invitation to the corporate world. This job became the foundation to my future career choices. In 1976, | formed the Yazoo Development Corporation. This organization operated a government
funded Early Childhood Development Center for over 20 years. This was the first of many corporations that | formed. The most noteworthy of my work with corporations is as a housing consultant. In 1985, | built a 48-unit HUD 202 housing project. These apartments have been in existence since 1985 and are fully occupied today. However, because of the myriad of problems that was associated with the construction of these apartments, | realized that in order to be successful in this business and to be able to control what | was doing, | needed a terminal degree, preferably, a law degree. In August of 1987, | enrolled in Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. May of 1990, | graduated.

Of course, my main interest in law school was corporate law. Understandably, considering my background. Since graduating from law school, | have engaged in private practice under the corporate name of Charles V. Taylor and Associates, Inc. In addition to the general practice of law, | conduct classes in Estate Planning and Entrepreneurship. My passion is working with these two
interchangeable subjects because they play a vitally important role in our everyday lives. It is all about planning. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This work is such a passion of mine that I plan to never retire.