Shanna Melton

Shanna T. Melton
Poet, Painter, Educator, Art Consultant
www.PoeticSoulArts.net

Shanna T. Melton is an award winning Poet, Painter Educator and Art Consultant from Bridgeport, CT. Performing, exhibiting and creating performance venues since 1997 has offered great opportunities to share her work with diverse communities.

Shanna has performed in poetry venues from Atlanta through Canada. Her work carries the essence of humanity and poetry. She began facilitating workshops including The Writer’s Group, and creating poetry venues including Lyrical Voices Night of Poetry & Arts, out of a strong desire to build a network of artists who can encourage one another to continue creating. Developing spaces for self expression has connected her to many creative communities but it also enhances her creative process as she guides and continues to learn from every person who engages in writing and performing with each gathering.

In January 2011, Shanna was presented with a citation from The State of Connecticut through Bridgeport’s Black Pride with their Woman to Know Award which is given to people who create positive change in their community in line with the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Shanna was honored with a 2017 Humanitarian Award from The Al-Aziz Islamic Center for “Being a Positive Example in the Community”. This award was accompanied by a proclamation and citation from The City of Bridgeport.

In June 2017, She was the honored Artist when she received the Arts & Culture Empowerment (ACE) Award from The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County. Shanna was also presented with the Bridgeport Girls Rock Award presented by The Polished Pearls Foundation and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Theta Tau Omega Chapter. All of these honors are a result of her work as an artist and community leadership.

Shanna is one of nine leaders celebrated as a 2018 CT Arts Hero by the State of Connecticut Office of the Arts.

Shanna is the author of two collections of poetry titled “A Voice in the Symphony” and most recently published “Unraveling My Thoughts”. Visit www.PoeticSoulArts.net for more information about this artist.