"Practical Information For The Real World" was written in 2010 by Lee Shainis, co-founder and Executive Director of the independent grassroots nonprofit organization Intercambio Uniting Communities. He designed and led the program's initial trainings and has helped the organization
serve over 10,000 people in Colorado and create a customized curriculum and training that is being used nationwide. Lee's prior experience includes the development of a volunteer program at a psychiatric treatment center
and supervision of an after-school program. His other volunteer work has included mentoring developmentally
challenged individuals, facilitating writing workshops for prison inmates, and assisting at a homeless shelter. Lee also teaches
multicultural dance aerobics in his spare time.
Lee has a BA in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and studied Spanish in Costa Rica,
where he volunteered at a home for the elderly. In 2004, Lee won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the
University of Michigan's School of Business. In 2005 Lee was awarded the Community Action Program (CAP) Multicultural
Award and was also recognized by the Boulder Daily Camera with a Pacesetter award in Educationm and in 2010 the Boulder County Gold People's Choice Award for Best Activist/Community Champion