SHALONDRIA WARDLOW

Ms. Wardlow is a volunteer at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Lompoc, California. She is the epitome of a true volunteer as she continually volunteers in many different arenas, both at the FCC and at home.

She has been involved with the Affirmative Action Committee as the Black Affairs Program Manager, a collateral duty, since 2004 at FCC Lompoc. During her tenure as Black Affairs Manager, she has been a key player in the success of the current FCC Lompoc Affirmative Action Committee. Her dedication and professionalism to the program are beyond reproach.

Ms. Wardlow was instrumental in developing and organizing the gathering of Christmas gifts for needy children in our annual “Angel Tree” program. As a result of her dedication and positive attitude, she was able to collect gifts from staff for over 50 children in our local community. Ms. Wardlow also implemented, organized, and coordinated the donations of 27 backpacks filled with school supplies for a local homeless shelter for children. As a result of the overwhelming response to her request, there were additional school supplies donated.

Ms. Wardlow has worked closely with Catholic Charities, an organization that assists local food pantries in providing food for the low income and homeless. She held a food drive and was responsible for collecting over 500 pounds of food for the local food pantry.

During the holiday season, Ms. Wardlow was responsible for collecting food items to make Thanksgiving meals for the local women’s shelter. There was enough food to make meals for the families who resided there.

Ms. Wardlow has been deeply involved with the Lompoc Police Activities League (PAL). PAL is an organization that provides programs for children to help keep them off the streets and out of trouble. She is currently a board member on this committee and has developed a strong relationship with PAL. She has raised over $3,000 for this organization by volunteering at their bar-b-ques, boxing tournaments, and fishing derbies. All proceeds for these fundraisers went to the various programs to help the children in our local community.

Due to Ms. Wardlow’s dedication to the Affirmative Action program at FCC Lompoc, she has sponsored many activities that have enhanced community relations, recruitment, and educated staff. Ms. Wardlow has helped to educate local teens during Black History Month by directing and coordinating them to give presentations on prominent people in history to their local churches. She also arranged for a former “Tuskegee Airmen” to speak at a Black History Month luncheon, as well as providing various ethnic displays.

Ms. Wardlow has worked with the University of California, Santa Barbara, (black student union, fraternities, and sororities) to help recruit minorities for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. As Black Affairs Program Manager, Ms. Wardlow works hard to develop programs to educate staff by organizing a multi-cultural luncheon fair, where staff were educated on many cultures through presentations, dance, and various food samplings.

Ms. Wardlow is also involved with a group of teens from the local community, where she is teaching them the importance of recycling an having them collect bottles and cans. All money collected is donated to local charities.

Ms. Wardlow is always available to help others in need. She has an incredible “can do” attitude, and when things need to get done, Ms. Wardlow is there to do it.