Chantell L. McDowell

Chantell L. McDowell grew up as an at-risk teen, and her desire to give back to her community propelled her to a career as a librarian. While at the Brooklyn Public Library, she facilitated outreach to public and alternative schools, the Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, Rikers Island, group homes, and neighborhood clinics. Later, while serving as a Teen Services Librarian for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library of Charlotte, North Carolina, she helped redesign the teen space of the North County Regional Library and provided special programs and services for teens at her library branch. She is currently Head Library Media Specialist at Ranson International Baccalaureate Middle School, Charlotte, and presented at ALA's annual conference in 2012 regarding library services to underserved populations.