SpokenHeard with Shannon Matesky and Susan Dobbe Chase

Shannon bio: An alumni of DePaul University’s Theatre School, Shannon holds a BFA in Acting. Her theatrical experience includes working with companies such as American Theatre Company, The Inconvenience, UrbanTheatre Co., The Hypocrites and Steppenwolf Theatre. Shannon assisted Chuck Smith in directing at the Goodman Theatre and MPAACT Theatre as well as assisted Charles Newell at The Court Theater. Shannon is the author of three solo plays, "She Think She Grown" "We Gotta Eat" and "The Saga of the Return." Shannon is signed with Paonessa Talent Agency in Chicago and MDT Agency in San Francisco. Shannon's spoken word poetry has been featured on stages across the country from classrooms, colleges to performance art spaces as well as the final season of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. As an activist and teacher Shannon encourages personal change as means of social change. She has worked for organizations such as Young Chicago Authors, Youth Speaks, Step-Up Women’s Network, Kuumba Lynx and Depaul University aiding teens and young adults in technical and life skills. Shannon currently produces festivals and campaigns with Youth Speaks Inc. including being the festival director for Brave New Voices International Teen Poetry Festival 2015 in Atlanta.