Shameka's story is one of tragedy, triumph, and the decision to be a part of the change she wants to see in the world. As a child growing up in church with two loving parents, Shameka never knew what mental illness, death, homelessness, gun violence, sexual assault, and extreme abuse felt like, but when she reached adulthood, it all surfaced simultaneously. Life brings trials to make you strong, but in Shameka's case, tests came to make her even more loving, kind, and compassionate to God's children. After her mother's death from breast cancer, there was a domino effect of hardships exhibited through her destructive behaviors. While navigating through this space, she gained a new love for those grieving individuals, specifically parents or immediate family members. The discovery of the impossibility of moving through the transition and grief of losing someone you have had your whole life is something that even the most intelligent researchers have an answer for but in her life she has found just not feeling alone makes a big difference.

The most kismet chemical imbalance uprooted during this time, and doctors diagnosed Shameka with Bipolar Disorder 1. Although manic episodes and hallucinations were told to be in her future, Shameka used her diagnosis as her superpower. Even after being in and out of the hospital for almost a year for a severe bleeding disorder Shameka was known to encourage, speak and teach others about the complexities of her disease, her grief, her hardships, and how they all are conquerable. Shameka not only took her pain and used it, but she has been incredibly transparent about her life, so others can see that dreams still come true after the hell you go through. Shameka is a serial entrepreneur who owns an executive assistant agency, her nonprofit organization Those Without Mothers, a podcast host for The Being Bipolar Podcast, a life/great coach, Grief educator, mental advocate, Workshop facilitator & speaker to the world.. She prides herself on advocating for all people and looks to encourage & uplift in different ways every day. It’s clear Shameka’s story is not typical, it doesn't fit in a box, but she's a star that uses her light to shine on others.