Dara Lum Shackelford, J.D. Policy and Research
dlum@gnoafterschool.org • 504.304.9591 x33
Dara is the Policy Director at the Afterschool Partnership. She links national trends in youth development and out-of-school time with local, state and federal policy initiatives. Dara also coordinates research and policy to support a vision for expanded, high quality and coordinated youth programming throughout Louisiana, and is currently involved in efforts to re-create the Louisiana Statewide Afterschool Network. In 2009, she was selected to participate in the Louisiana Department of Social Services’ inaugural Innovation in Louisiana Government Fellowship. Dara has over 6 years experience working for high-impact public interest nonprofit organizations. Before coming to the Afterschool Partnership, Dara worked at the Colorado Lawyers Committee to coordinate high impact pro bono legal advocacy on behalf of children and communities living in poverty. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dara also holds a J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She is a trained facilitator in conflict resolution. Dara is married to Jason, and mother to two wonderful boys, Jack and Alex.