In this issue, we would like to recognize Shelancia Daniel, M.Ed., Executive Director of Creativity Shell. The Creativity Shell is a nonprofit organization that teaches classes such as sewing/textile arts, cooking, building and other creative trades to students in their private studios, libraries, schools, ABA therapy centers, the juvenile justice system as well as shelters that rescue children from homelessness and human trafficking. All of their classes are designed to teach children essential life and practical skills.
Aside from building a nonprofit organization from the ground up that designs education programs that teach practical and fundamental skills to students, Shelancia has a master’s degree in educational psychology with a focus on creativity, cognition, innovation and development and is also a certified youth mental health first responder.
While teaching sewing/textile arts classes to homeless youths and sex trafficking survivors, Shelancia used the creative approach to make the connection between poor mental health and the people such as sex traffickers who exploit it. Shelancia believes that if we can work together to address the mental health needs of our children at a young age, they will be better informed about the dangers that are lurking for them and will be better armed with the practical and fundamental skills to combat it.