Shirley DeCourt-Park’s grandparents were Polish immigrants who came to the United States like many of their time, in search of a new, prosperous life for themselves and their family. Their names etched in the logs of Ellis Island.
Shirley’s father walked barefoot to a one room schoolhouse. He didn’t own a pair of shoes until he was ten. Her grandmother was a teacher and spoke five languages. However, living on a farm with thirteen children, there was little time to teach.
To help his mother, at age ten, her father earned fifty cents a week, driving a water wagon for laborers building the Middle Tennessee Railroad. He became a foundry worker and Shirley’s mother worked first as a factory worker sewing raincoats, then working the conveyer belt at an ice cream plant.
Shirley’s family of five lived in an apartment building where the occupants of the four apartments shared a hall bathroom. Some time later, her parents bought their only home. The two-bedroom, 1,100 square foot house, all they could afford, their only source for retirement. Shirley’s parents struggled, but they knew that their hard work would provide their children the opportunity to fulfill the American dream.
Shirley graduated from San Diego State University and pursued post-graduate studies at the University of San Diego. Despite becoming a widow and a single mother at an early age, Shirley DeCourt-Park became an educator, a real estate broker, a published author, an award-winning filmmaker and community volunteer. Shirley has lived in San Diego County for 49 years and feels fortunate to have realized the American dream.
Shirley sees many people today who cannot achieve the American Dream for which her grandparents emigrated to this country. She wants to go to Congress to re-establish the American Dream for everyone and help make our nation great again.
San Diego Association of Realtors
As a real estate broker for 20 years and member of the National Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors, and San Diego Board of Realtors, Shirley has been fortunate to participate as a member of the SDBR’s Realtors Active in the Political Process (RAPP) and the Government Affairs Committee which represents SDBR’s membership on governmental issues impacting real estate and to provide advice to local and key government leaders on real estate related issues.
Diocese of San Diego, Educator
Shirley was responsible for planning and organizing the curriculum development programs of Social Studies, Language Arts, Religion and Literature. Expanded the curriculum to include Basic Skills and Current Events, helping develop young minds to understand an awareness of everyday living—balancing a budget, living within one’s means; and an awareness of the economic and social issues affecting our world.
Shirley formulated a school newspaper to help students understand working together in a business type atmosphere--how a business is organized, delegation of duties; and how deadlines are kept and budgets are met.
Business Owner, Author, Award Winning Filmmaker
As a Producer, Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Composer under the name Braide Keyland and Keyland Productions, Shirley created the award winning film - HEAR THE CHILDREN- winner of the prestigious Los Angeles Movie Award and New York Best Documentary.
In their own words, children speak out about their future and the environment they may be forced to live in, offering advice on how our world leaders should address the pending issues affecting our earth and the environment. They are very much aware that all children in the world are affected by the decisions of world leaders. Left to the mercy of those who will leave this earth to them and future generations, their voices are seldom, if ever, heard. We tell them when and where to go, but who really listens to the voices of the children. Each of the children in the film is involved in their own lives either in their family, and or the community to help save our environment and preserve life. Most importantly, the film was created to let the public and world leaders know that children should have a voice. After all, they will inherit the earth we leave.
Based on the novel Never Forget and dedicated to a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Earl G. Lewis, Shirley created the award winning screenplay THE JOURNAL. Set in the Vietnam Era and historically accurate, the novel tells a tragic, compassionate story of one man’s struggle during the war that seared America’s soul.
Shirley wrote and published the novel FORBIDDEN depicting conflict between two races and two nations. Historically accurate, it is suggested required reading at the secondary level in the town of which it is set - Torrington, Wyoming.
