Shanelle Gabriel is a renowned spoken word poet, singer, lupus advocate, and educator from Brooklyn, NY, celebrated for her dynamic artistry and global impact. Best known for her feature on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, she has performed alongside luminaries such as Jill Scott, Nas, Nikki Giovanni, Anderson Paak, Stacey Abrams, and more. A finalist in both the National and Individual World Poetry Slams, Shanelle has graced iconic stages including the Vatican, the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, Howard Theater, SXSW, and the ADCOLOR Conference.

Her creative work extends to crafting commissioned pieces for prominent organizations such as Fast Company Magazine, LifeWtr, Eden BodyWorks, Chief Women’s Executive Leadership Network, and the Girl Scouts of Greater NY. Her poetry was also featured in a national Pandora Music campaign that appeared on the Times Square Jumbotron. Shanelle’s collaborations include BET’s 2022 Nelson Mandela Project with Marsai Martin and KITKAT’s Black Music Month campaign with DJ Clark Kent. A gifted artist, Shanelle has released three albums, Start Something, Aim High, and Things I Need to Remember, featuring words of empowerment and encouragement through spoken word and soulful music.

Shanelle is deeply committed to education and advocacy. With nearly two decades of experience as an educator, school administrator, and nonprofit leader, she founded Building Constellations, LLC, specializing in cultural & identity-centered trainings, youth financial literacy workshops, and professional learning for educators. Shanelle earned her Master’s in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and has guest lectured at institutions such as NYU Steinhardt, The New School, and Georgia State University. She has also authored poetry and hip-hop-centered curricula for Federal Hall, the Center for Black Literature, the Middle School Quality Initiative, and other educational and nonprofit organizations. Shanelle formerly served as the Executive Director of Urban Word, the pioneering nonprofit that established the National Youth Poet Laureate Program, and is a professional development consultant for the Center for Black Literature’s school based program.

Diagnosed with lupus in 2004, Shanelle is a passionate advocate for raising awareness about the condition. She has shared her story alongside the President of the National Institutes of Health, appeared on the cover of USA Today, featured in Women’s Health Magazine, and spoken on the Lifetime Network about her journey. Shanelle currently serves on the Patient Advisory Board for the Center for Info & Study on Clinical Research Participation, the Lupus Voices Council for the Accelerating Breakthroughs Consortium, and hosts the Better Together: Living with Lupus series on BlackDoctor.org.

A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Shanelle remains dedicated to empowering her community through creativity, education, and advocacy.