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Shanequa Smith

Grassroots Fellow 2020

shanequa portrait

Dr. Shanequa Smith is a restorative practitioner originally from Harlem, NY, who has resided and worked in West Virginia for the past two decades. She embarked on her journey as a restorative justice practitioner after recognizing her innate gift for healing. As a parent herself, caring for her own two children and numerous other children in her family and community, it took her many years and a Master's Degree in Counseling to discern the distinction between providing and parenting. Subsequently, during her community research to attain a Doctorate in Human and Community Development at West Virginia University, she gained a deep understanding of the pivotal role of internal healing in breaking the cycle of generational poverty. She also became acutely aware of the disproportionate lack of nurturing spaces and institutions in impoverished and Black communities. Through her personal efforts to unlearn and disengage from contextual and generational oppression, as well as her pursuit of healing and liberation for herself, she realized her calling to create these spaces for communities as well.