Shelley Ottenbrite is a dedicated conservationist, experienced traveler, and enthusiastic student of dance. Currently a resident of Richmond, Virginia, she frequently volunteers her time to clean up Texas Beach, a part of the James River Park System. At Texas Beach, Shelley Ottenbrite collects beer cans, cigarette butts, and other trash while she walks her dog, performing a community service the park district cannot provide on its own. Shelley Ottenbrite also contributes to environmental conservation by purchasing local and refurbished materials, using solar energy, and composting kitchen waste for use in her garden. She makes energy-efficient choices while converting old buildings for use as apartments, obtaining as much material as she can from her nearby Habitat for Humanity International ReStore outlet. When not pursuing her interests in Richmond, Shelley Ottenbrite frequently travels to New York City and Long Island. She has traveled extensively in Europe and plans to return to Africa for an extended visit, having once spent two weeks in Tunisia. Shelley Ottenbrite has also sojourned in Argentina, where she studied the tango. Now popular across the globe, the tango originated in the low-income districts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay. Shelley Ottenbrite enjoys the many distinct styles of tango, such as Argentine tango, ballroom tango, and tango nuevo. In addition to the tango, Shelley Ottenbrite has studied other Latin dances, including salsa and merengue. An avid reader, Shelley Ottenbrite lists Terry Tempest Williams, Gary Shteyngart, Mary Roach, David Sedaris, and Barbara Kingsolver among her favorite authors. She supports a wide range of charitable causes, including the Center for Biological Diversity, The Elephant Sanctuary, the National Parks Conservation Association, Oxfam International, and Amnesty International.
