John Shadowens

John Shadowens is the former president and CEO of Spero Family Services in Mount Vernon, Illinois.  He has spent three decades in regional leadership and community development for a variety of issues throughout Southern Illinois. John has been an advocate for children and families. Currently he specializes in  developing food security solutions in rural food deserts. He develops and cultivates partnerships among community and economic independent grocers to help them sustain or create grocery enterprises. 

John has a Bachelor's in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master's in Public Administration from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is the author of the book Legacy Lost: Cultural Erosion, Social Isolation and the Effect on Children and Families at Risk. John is an experienced trainer for the Search Institute's Developmental Assets Framework, Bridges Out of Poverty, and is certified as a Rural Grocery Specialist. He is also considered an expert in the fields of youth mentoring and positive youth development. John has consulted with dozens of organizations and presented to thousands advocating for changes in our traditional approaches to working with young people and rural food insecurity.