Giving people a voice is what matters to Karen Pearson Shepard ’67. Whether it’s by helping a disadvantaged teen gain access to a college education, teaching Latina mothers how to advocate for their children, or dealing with youth homelessness, she is passionate about empowering members of her community.
“I like people with voices,” said Shepard. “And at times in life you lose your voice, but when you gain it back, it’s so powerful.”
After a 15-year career in social work, Shepard transitioned into the role of philanthropist and advocate, becoming involved in efforts with a community-wide impact, such as helping raise money for a hospice unit at PIH Health.
A native of Whittier, Shepard will readily admit that her heart and dedication are focused on her hometown.
It was through this work that she became acquainted with Professor Joyce Kaufman, the director of Whittier College’s Center for Engagement with Communities (CEC). The CEC (which grew from the College and Community program) coordinates service learning programs on and off campus, and partners with organizations throughout the city of Whittier and beyond.
Over the years, Shepard has become one of the CEC’s biggest fans. Through the BCM Foundation, an organization that she and her husband, Jim Shepard, manage, they have provided significant financial support for the CEC’s work—allowing the Center to expand its reach.
Via the CEC, Whittier students provide nearly 150,000 hours of community service and work with more than 175 students in grades K through 12 each academic year. Some key partners include the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier, Whittier High School, El Rancho High School, PIH Health, Uptown YMCA, Lydia Jackson Elementary, First Day Whittier, and the Whittier Public Library, among others. Due to the good work of the CEC, the College has received a Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, an honor achieved by only seven percent of the nation’s colleges and universities.
While the Center coordinates dozens of projects, its flagship programs involve reaching out to underserved high school students—a mentorship program, a program for girls in science, and workshops on social justice and human rights. According to Kaufman, these efforts are geared toward introducing students to higher education.
The CEC also partners with the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing arts to offer cultural programming to schools and the local community.
Another long-standing CEC program—one that Shepard is particularly proud of—is the Fifth Dimension, a collection of outreach programs for children between the ages of six and 12 that is managed by a group of Whittier College students. Through a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, the children involved receive mentoring, homework help, and exposure to higher education.
“There are kids that would have never, ever considered going to college—giving them a voice and motivating them to go to college, that, to me, is so important,” added Shepard.
Beyond programming, another goal of the CEC is to bring together the various community organizations in the area to work in collaboration. Throughout the year, the CEC hosts BCM partner workshops to help educate the wider Whittier community on various topics. Most recently, the Center held the Invisible Homelessness Workshop, which focused on homeless students from kindergarten through college age. Participants formed a working group with the idea to provide resources and reduce the gap for these students. Tackling issues like this is what keeps Shepard motivated to continue to give back to her community.
“Karen is all about collaboration and partnerships, and finding ways to bring people together to pursue a common good,” said Kaufman. “The funding through the BCM Foundation has enabled the CEC to build on those collaborations and to find ways to extend them. We could not do all we do without that funding, which is, in part, due to the vision that Jim and Karen have for our community and all it could and should be.”