From Volunteer Center of Racine County

The Volunteer Center of Racine County has appointed Sharin Tellez as its new Youth Program Coordinator. Sharin, a native of Racine, is a graduate of Responding to Emergencies and Disasters with Youth (READY) training, and has served in a number of volunteer capacities in her nineteen years.

While at St. Catherine’s High School, Sharin lettered in softball, played basketball, and was involved with various school clubs. She is currently a student and plans to study psychiatry.

Sharin will be coordinating local Earth Day activities and is looking forward to organizing and serving as a facilitator for the Higher Adventures Leadership Program. Presently she is recruiting middle school students for Summer Service- Learning camps.

One of Sharin’s key motivators is her unwavering belief that every young person has the potential to be a leader. She hopes to help youth participants become “confident with whom they are”, helping them to choose positive future directions. Also, she hopes they will continue to serve as volunteers in the Racine area. Sharin says, “Young people can count, lead, and help others.”

In 2008 Sharin set her READY training in motion when the Root River left its banks flooding streets and houses in her Parkview neighborhood. She quickly addressed the mounting crisis, gathering information from her neighbors and reporters before taking swift action.

Sharin’s assertive, confident leadership was a key factor in soothing the many emotions that mirrored the surging flood waters. Her ability to speak Spanish and English with equal fluency helped her to obtain permission from her Spanish speaking neighbors to shut off their utilities during the emergency, on behalf of WE Energies representatives.

For her intuitive, decisive actions, Sharin received an Unsung Hero award in November of 2008 and a Heroic Award from the Volunteer Center in 2009. Interestingly, Sharin’s mother had encouraged her to take the READY class the summer before the storms struck.

Sharin has also performed puppet shows with Focus on the Community, prepared holiday food baskets and was an active volunteer with children at the Family Literacy Council. She is a focused young woman and will be an important member of the Volunteer Center Staff.