Meet Sharece Sellem-Hannah, a community advocate committed to raising awareness and promoting positive change within communities. Raised in Hartford and Wethersfield, Connecticut, Sharece intimately understands the challenges of growing up in poverty across diverse environments.

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As a first-generation college graduate, Sharece earned her Master's degree in Community Health and Prevention Science (University of Cincinnati), holds a Bachelor of Science in American Studies (Charter Oak State College) and Associate's Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences (Gateway Community College). 

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Sharece's path is characterized by her resilience in the midst of challenges. She uses her experiences as part of her contribution to advocacy and the arts. Growing up in a family contending with the diverse implications of poverty, Sharece's story emphasizes the transformative potential of intentional social programs and quality education. Furthermore, her experiences bring attention to the significance of education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development in disrupting the cycle of poverty.

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An award-winning playwright, Sharece utilizes theatre to explore critical issues impacting inner-city families. Her notable work, Matthew Rising, revolves around a fictional New Haven inner-city family confronting the effects of the opioid crisis, inspiring a documentary project with NE-HIDTA, Silence on the Streets, covering themes like social determinants of health, the crack era, the science of fentanyl, harm reduction, and prevention efforts.

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Beyond her creative pursuits, Sharece has held various professional roles, including drama instructor, direct support roles, case management, outreach, admissions counseling for Job Corps, and grant management. She also served as a Program Administrator for Clifford Beers, a revolutionary mental health organization, bringing a wealth of experience and insights into community well-being. In addition to managing the operations of the South Central Network of Care (seven collaboratives in the Southern region of Connecticut) she was the chair for the New Haven Collaborative and co-chair for the North Haven/Hamden Collaborative where she and collaborative members organized resource fairs, community dinners and facilitated public health/community focused meetings and trainings.

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Sharece is passionate about leveraging personal experiences and professional expertise to inspire positive change, resilience, and collective well-being within communities. As a down-to-earth presenter and project manager, Sharece invites participants to join a journey of empowerment, education, and community building.