Carmen Conteras-Shrum

Carmen Conteras-Shrum is a housewife and mother attending school at Brevard Community College in Cocoa, Florida. While at Brevard Community College, Carmen has donated over 3,000 volunteer hours to the community.

Mrs. Conteras-Shrum created the Supervised Visitation/Monitored Exchange Program in Brevard County. The program, now called the Family Enrichment Center, works with at least 40 families each week creating a child friendly environment for court ordered exchanges. Instead of meeting in police stations, children meet in a safe place with toys and a new playground. Carmen solicited local law enforcement officers and the county sheriff's office to donate their time to provide security.

Mrs. Conteras-Shrum has also raised money and awareness for domestic violence. She writes monthly press releases for programs offered by the Salvation Army. She has chaired the Brevard County Commission on the Status of Women. For three years in a row, she has led the commission to sponsor a countywide and statewide domestic violence seminar.

Ms. Contreras-Shrum has been intimately involved with the victims of domestic violence. She founded the Brevard County Clothesline Project, an ongoing awareness and healing program for victims of domestic violence. With this project, she has helped more than 50 domestic violence shelter clients to help tell their individual stories by painting T-shirts.

Ms. Contreras-Shrum frequently speaks to area chambers, the United Way, civic groups, various social service agencies and Brevard Community College. She has participated on several committees concerned with domestic violence including Domestic Violence Court Issues and Injection for Protection Reviews.

Ms. Conteras-Shrum has received many awards for her contributions to her community including Brevard Community College's Outstanding Student Humanitarian Award and the college-wide Community Service Award presentation at graduation.

Last year she was honored by the U.S. Secretary of Education, Richard Riley, as a Howard R. Swearer Student Humanitarian Award Winner. This award is given annually by Campus Compact to five students nationwide.