Shelby grew up in a middle class household with her mom and brother, admiring her mom’s success. She was inspired to talk about gender and other equity issues impacting marginalized communities. Her particular interest is women’s health, especially around education and returning to nature. “Women need to learn more about their bodies and the power they possess within their sacred femininity.” Believing firmly that a return to a present state of being is important, Shelby is especially interested in certain Indigenous ways of life and culture.
Within Shelby’s studies at Acadia University, of Women and Gender, Sociology and Psychology, she has investigated queer studies, indigenous studies, global women’s issues, African diasporic studies, poverty, as well as in depth studies in Feminism, and Structures of Power within our society. She hopes to go into massage therapy and ultimately become a Naturopathic Health MD.
Shelby has been part of Waves of Change in Nova Scotia. The nonprofit provides teens and young adults with bystander awareness training in an effort to prevent sexual violence. Last year her team did the training with groups below the age of 18 for the first time, and received recognition from the provincial Minister of Education for the initiative.
The Menstrual Equity work of Soroptimist is really exciting. Shelby cares deeply about educating women on their bodies. “Periods are a part of that, period poverty is an issue that affects women in so many ways and it is such an important issue to tackle.”