CAMBRIDGE - The Empowerment Center, located at 615B Pine St. in Cambridge, welcomes Andrew Shannon as the new executive director. Shannon, who is from Newport News, Virginia, has over 30 years of executive management experience in the nonprofit and public sector.

The board members of the Empowerment Center are looking forward to having Shannon help continue its mission: to work in partnership with the diverse community of Cambridge to provide the underserved youth and adult population of the city with education, health and wellness, work skills and cultural enrichment programs.

Shannon’s passion for helping others and promoting positive youth development led him to organize a parade in 1990 to give the residents of southeast Newport News a positive, wholesome family event and a sense of pride in their community.

Last year, he celebrated “The 31^st Anniversary of a Vision - the Southeast Community Day Parade and Festival.” The parade and festival attracts over 60,000 attendees annually in September including national, state and local leaders.

Family members of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including his son, Martin Luther King II, daughter Dr. Bernice A. King, and a host of other relatives, U.S. senators, governors, lieutenant governors, members of Congress and other elected officials have served as the parade grand marshals and keynote speakers.

The Andrew Shannon Gospel Music Celebration has featured national recording artists Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Jekalyn Carr, Koryn Hawthorne, Dorothy Norwood, JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise, Luther Barnes, Byron Cage and Dr. Bobby Jones, just to name a few. The concerts are held throughout the country from New York to Atlanta, Georgia.

The Andrew Shannon Drumline and Talent Showcase have been the featured performers for the United States Department of Energy Black History Month Celebration in Washington, D.C.

Shannon is involved in civil rights and serves as the Virginia State Unit of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference state vice president and chapter president. He is also a former member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Virginia Advisory Committee.

For his tireless efforts in helping feed the hungry, assisting the homeless and providing hope to the hopeless, Shannon has also received numerous awards for his community service.