The D3F Team

Allan has devoted his life’s work to improving the odds for children and families. He is father of and daddy to three daughters and five grandchildren, and "bonus father/grandfather" to many. He is a former teacher, adjunct professor, school principal, advisor to the US Secretary of Education, state superintendents of education, and the White House Office of Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships. After eight years as an elementary school principal, Allan founded and headed the National Elementary School Center. In 2008, he co-founded REEL Fathers in Santa Fe, NM, and now serves as president emeritus. In 2017, he launched DADvocacy Consulting Group. In 2018, he created the DADDY Wishes Fund and Daddy Appleseed Fund. In 2022, he founded and co-directed the inaugural Daddying Film Festival.

​Scott is the proud dad of two daughters. He's also DADvocacy Consulting Group's Director of Communications and editor of the Daddying  blog. He's a seasoned writer with more than 30 years experience helping organizations of all sizes tell their stories and has led PR agency teams with some of the world’s top agencies, including Fleishman-Hillard and The Weber Group. As a consultant, he’s helped launch three parenting advocacy nonprofits with D3F founder Allan Shedlin since 2003. He was formerly known as "Imperfect Dad" for three years with the Raising Nerd blog. His first book, Beggars or Angels, was a ghostwritten memoir for the nonprofit Devotion to Children's founder Rosemary Tran Lauer.

Rob is the proud dad of three girls and “Papi” to two grandsons and two granddaughters. He's also a senior strategist providing communications and leadership consulting at The Conference Board and Committee for Economic Development. He's led program development and fundraising at Achieve, Inc. and Change the Equation. From 2001-2011, he served as East Coast education manager for Intel, providing a strategy for the company's investments in K-12 and higher education and helping improve programs in math, science, and engineering.

Reinhard Lorenz is the proud daddy of Sofia and a producer, writer, and editor. Based in New Mexico, he works in the film industry and with clients ranging from corporations to nonprofits. As a documentary filmmaker, he has explored his German family roots with the personal documentary project We Are Silesians, and co-directed a documentary on the National Institute of Flamenco, Flamenco School. An accomplished instructor and educator, he has taught internationally in Germany, the US, and South Africa, making his industry experience available to the next generation of young filmmakers. Born and raised in Germany he holds an MFA from the University of the Arts in Berlin.

When not renowned as “Kaylem's Dad,” Hakim is known as the inaugural Poet Laureate of Albuquerque, NM (2012-2014) and, until recently, the Deputy Director of Cultural Services for the City of Albuquerque. He is a national and regional Poetry Slam Champion and holds three consecutive collegiate poetry slam titles at the University of NM. Bellamy’s work has been featured on AlterNet, Truthout, CounterPunch, and nationally-syndicated Tavis Smiley Radio Show. He's the host for New Mexico PBS's ¡COLORES! Program and is the founding president of Beyond Poetry LLC.

Eshaan is a high-school senior, journalist, filmmaker, podcaster, literacy & wellness advocate, and one of our inaugural Daddying Film Festival student finalists for his film Delhi Days. He frequently reviews films for KIDS FIRST! Film Critics.

JP is a New Mexico-based multimedia artist whose works focus on his culture, perspectives, and values. He is an active member of the Santa Fe community helping others like himself regain the positive values of Chicano heritage. He creates in various media from stone, wood, oil and acrylic paints to ink, graphite, airbrush, and aerosol. His works range from tabletop sculptures to monumental 50-foot murals. He is a member of the Alas De Agua (Wings of Water) collective, which is focused on healing their community through various forms of art, including murals, poetry, performance art, and informational classes.

Gabriela is a 17-year-old high-school senior, artist, and leader looking for new great opportunities. She recently earned a Davis NM Scholarship and hopes to soon become a member of D3F partner REEL Fathers.

Ranny is founder and president of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media, a 501c3 nonprofit children's media advocacy organization. A former educator, Levy created an award-winning, PBS-produced and ACE-nominated television show, and managed an independent film production and distribution company in the mid-80s. In 1991, she co-founded the Coalition for Quality Children's Media and its KIDS FIRST! Film Critics initiative, a program that engages young people (ages 9 to 22) as entertainment reporters. She is a frequent speaker about children's media and an ardent advocate for quality children's entertainment. Ranny has written three books, including The New York Times / KIDS FIRST Guide to The Best Children's Videos, and A Parent's Guide to the Best Children's Videos, DVDs and CD-ROMs..

Ava is a native of Farmington, New Mexico, and is studying film production at the University of New Mexico. She loves working on Film Festivals and short film projects and hopes to use her festival experience in pursuit of an entertainment industry career as a film Producer and Festival coordinator.