DIASPORA ARTS COALITION

   Shamele is also an internationally recognized touring poet/spoken word artist, storyteller and author who brings her gift of gossip and gab to the masses. She has performed and lectured throughout Africa's Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, through Australia, Europe's England, France, Germany and Ireland, South America's Brazil, Chile, and Dominican Republic, to the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica, Haiti, in Canada and most of the states in the USA. Shamele is the founder and artistic director of “Lip Tongue & Ear Poetry Productions” which is a 29-year-old multi cultural poetry/spoken word/storytelling/ theatrical guild with over 300 members. She is the author of five books of poetry and short stories and her work has appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies. Shamele is also the recipient of many literary awards including the “International Storyteller’s Liar Contest – 1990, 2005 and 2008”. Shamele has been noted as “poet laureate” in many cities where she has tenured throughout her career.  

   Shamele Jenkins is the Executive Director & Immediate Past President of Miami Dade County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association (“MDCFAPA”). Ms. Jenkins served as President for almost 11 years before resigning that post in 2019 to go work on contract in California. Working in California, she created foster & adoptive support groups and social events thru Project Foster & California (primarily all-over Southern California). That California contract which should have been 2 to 3 weeks lasted well into 2023 making her bi-coastal! Ms. Jenkins fundraises, creates special events, and training workshops where foster, adoptive and relative caregivers can hone their parenting skills while being kept up to date on Florida laws that directly impact their families. She seeks & creates educational & arts scholarship opportunities and takes both the youth and caregivers to conferences in and outside of Miami and the State of Florida. Shamele is a single parent who was a foster parent for over 32 years licensed in New York and Florida. She adopted 5 youth and has raised more than 300 – many of which remain in contact with her even in their adult lives. She has received numerous awards and recognitions but most noteworthy are - Volunteer Award from Florida Department of Juvenile Justice 2020; United States Congressional Angels in Adoptions Recipient 2017; Florida Governor’s Volunteer Award 2015. Shamele is also a professional public speaker with an emphasis on foster care, time management, domestic violence, and personal care! During the pandemic Shamele solicited and received in 2019 more than 3,000 face masks which were distributed to all of Miami’s youth and families in care. She also provided school uniforms for more than 200 adopted youth in 2020 and 2021; Easter baskets for more than 1400 each year and thousands of toys and school supplies. Shamele is also a liaison for the foster care system in the State of California serving foster & adoptive families from El Centro, San Diego, Los Angeles, etc.

   Shamele is the Founder & President of The Nubian Sistahood (TNS) which is a 13-year-old women’s organization. Their primary mission is to empower women and children. They do community work with foster youth, women in transition, women in prison, & girls in juvenile detention. They also travel locally, nationally, & internationally hosting workshops on women’ empowerment. To their credit they have conducted workshops and events in Fiji, Australia, Jamaica, The Bahamas, and all over the USA. TNS also hosts bi-annual conferences in Miami on a host of subjects to empower not only women but the entire community.