Del Cohen shares her passion for volunteer work in home state of Nevada and for NFPW

She is like the Energizer bunny. She just keeps going, and going and going to promote the causes near and dear to her heart. She is an amazing woman who jumps into the causes she believes in and gives her time and talents 100 percent. Shayne Del Cohen is a long-time leader for NFPW in Nevada. She believes in our organization and we are better for her dedication to both organizations. We are a better organization because of Shayne. Meet another unique and unbelievable member.

Name: Shayne Del Cohen

Shayne Del Cohen

City and State: Reno, Nevada

Affiliate and leadership positions: Seemingly lifetime president of Nevada Press Women

Years a member of NFPW: Joined in the 1970’s

Tell us a little about you.

Absolutely excellent and nurturing high school (journalism) education in Bay Area which facilitated “higher” education at UCDavis, Friends World College (Mexico, Kenya, India, with independent study in Viet Nam/Korea), M.A. at School for International Education (Malaysia) and Ph.D. in International Law from Columbia Pacific.

As a VISTA Volunteer in the early days, was assigned to the Fallon-Paiute Shoshone Reservation through the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada which not only became home and family, but a foundation for working as the AO to the Reno-Sparks tribal chairman for 10 years as well as serving as a development consultant with tribes all over the country for the last 25 years.

From basic water and electricity systems, housing and community organization to casinos, museums, archives, it has been constant stimulation and exciting projects for almost a half century, to say nothing of interactions with the U.S. Congress and Nevada Legislature. One seldom sees green snot anymore and there is a growing population of well educated, culturally grounded and vision-questing natives, testimony to the possibilities for all indigenous overcoming the ravages of colonialism.

Along the way I hosted/produced a public affairs television show, “We the People,” for 15 years. As the Nevada coordinator for a five-state tribal libraries project, I started a newsletter which evolved into a daily journal which goes out to an email list as well as being carried on the California Indian Education website. (To demonstrate the time warp, one of my first tasks as a VISTA was to zip-code the subscription list for the Native Navadan, a state-wide community newspaper, pre-internet.)

Obviously very blessed.

Any career advice you would give?

Be a radical……radical is a mathematical term meaning root. Thus, go to the root of the story/problem/situation. The old 5 W’s serve us well as does two source reporting. The other thing that has served me well is to always ask, “Where does it say no?”

Shayne Del Cohen

Which talent would you most like to have?

To be able to burst into recognizable song. I have a three note range, all off key. Paramour and I were both invited OUT of the sixth grade choir.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

There is a saying, “home is where the heart is.” My heart is between second and fourthe rib, therefore I am always at home.

What book are you reading?

“How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas,” by Jeff Guinn and “The Anti-Federalist Papers and Constitutional Convention Debates” by Ralph Ketchem, preceded by “Gloss” by Jennifer Oko about the battle between style and substance on morning news shows and “Black Hills” by Dan Simmons, an amazing and beautifully crafted story.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

My Dad was the entertainment for the 1994 NFPW Convention in Las Vegas which proved to be the practice round for his becoming the International Whistling Champion 1995.

Why is your affiliate and NFPW important to you?

For many decades Nevada Press Women was small, but an amazing group of talented, energetic and pace setting women in a small state where everyone knew everyone. Nevada has changed dramatically and this chapter needs to be revitalized and refocused as the publications of our beginnings are quickly disappearing. NFPW grapples with some of the same realities and together we may find ways of facilitating moth organizations to provide meaningful leadership and mentoring within the burgeoning field of communications.

Ways to follow you on website, etc.

http://www.shaynedel.com/ with many thanks to The Indian Reporter, California Indian Network, californiaindianeducation.org

 

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