Volunteering Helps Gen Y Live Well-round Lives

March 30, 2011 by Tamara Bell

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In today’s episode of Keeping Up with Gen Y, we meet the March Y Gen Cares volunteer, Shelby Wardlaw. The 22-year-old is an Austin, Texas, native who volunteers with the Saint Louise House, a local nonprofit that provides affordable housing and essential services to mothers and children experiencing homelessness in Central Texas.

Shelby explains how community service can lift the Gen Y spirit in the face of helpless feelings brought on by worldwide events. She also discusses why living a well-rounded life should include giving back to those less fortunate.
More about Shelby Wardlaw
Shelby Wardlaw is an Austin, Texas, native who volunteers with the Saint Louise House, a local nonprofit that provides affordable housing and essential services to mothers and children experiencing homelessness in Central Texas.

A 2010 graduate of Vassar College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Russian, Shelby works as a legal assistant for Lynn Sherman Law Firm and Consulting and hopes to head to graduate school next year for a Master’s in Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
When she’s not volunteering, or at work, Shelby writes a book review blog that she, at least, finds funny.

Filed Under: World Tagged With: tamara bell

About Tamara Bell

Tamara Bell is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Y Gen Out Loud, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that provides a platform for Generation Yto discuss national politics and public policy issues.

Tamara began her journalism career as a staff reporter for the Dallas Times Herald. A few years later, she moved to York, Pa., as a political reporter for the York Dispatch, covering local, state, and national government as well as writing investigative stories for the mid-sized daily newspaper.

A Texas girl at heart, Tamara returned to Dallas a year later to work as press relations director for the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. John Bryant. The next year, she moved to Austin and the Texas Legislature, where she stayed for 15 years. While at the Legislature, Tamara worked for Democratic House members as Chief-of-Staff and Press Secretary, and as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Senate State Affairs Committee chaired by a Republicansenator.

In 1996, Tamara became co-owner of a political newsletter covering state issues and elections. As Editor-in-Chief, Tamara helped shape the weekly publication into a must-read for state officials, legislative aides, and lobbyists. More recently, Tamara wrote a regular column analyzing coverage by the Texas Capitol Press Corps for an online political publication. She also works as a lecturer in the Advertising Department at The University of Texasat Austin.

Tamara has also been a judge for the 2010 Bright Ideas Award given by the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, served as a panelist at the Society of Professional Journalists 2010 Region 8 Conference where the theme was How to Save Journalism, and has been a guest lecture for the Advertising Department’s Internship course, speaking about the jobs outlook for graduating seniors.

Tamara earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin, and her B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M University. She resides in Austin with her son, Jackson.

Tamara Bell is also the Host of Keeping Up with Gen Y on WomensRadio. Keeping Up with Gen Y offers discussions, interviews, and commentary about important issues of the day from the perspective of Generation Y (18-to 30-years-old). Aimed at all generations interested in learning about and inspiring young people, this show features professionals, experts, researchers, and members of Gen Y who share insights and experiences about the topics on the minds of today’s young adults.