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Shanell

Throughout her childhood, Shanell was homeless, seeking shelter in abandoned cars, different men's homes and wherever else her mother, a drug addict, ended up.; When Children's Services officials found Shanell at 11 years old, they took her away from her mother to give her a better life.; Shanell was sent from one foster home to another.; As a big girl with a strong personality, she intimidated most people she met.; Angry and frustrated with her life, she lashed out by beating up others.; After the third assault charge, she ended up at Juvenile Hall.

When the authorities learned that she was pregnant, they transferred Shanell to a facility for unwed mothers.; She was very excited about joining Create Now! and met on a weekly basis with her screenwriting mentor, Babs Greyhofsky.; At first, as they developed a script based on her life, she only told the mentor about her routine problems, but still held back her trust.; However, over a period of time, they bonded.; She opened up her heart and confided her deepest feelings.

Shanell told Babs that she had never met anyone who had a job before.; She admired the screenwriter and began to take her advice.; The greatest honor came when Shanell asked Babs to be the Godmother of her daughter, Shauntenay.

Instead of going back to her regular high school and the influence of her gang friends, Shanell chose to attend a special school, so that she could finish her education while staying out of trouble. As a result, she received an award for academic achievement at her high school graduation.; Babs was the only "family" member who attended the ceremony.; Babs and Shanell decided to co-write a screenplay, "Fire and Desire," which Shanell mostly wrote.; A funny and unique horror script, it was optioned by producer Dale Pollack ("Set It Off").; The option lapsed and the film hasn't been produced yet, but Shanell was still very proud that she had completed a project for the first time.; She decided to attended nursing college while working at a restaurant to support her family, which now includes a son named Arreis. ; In her free time, Shanell is working on her autobiographical screenplay with equipment donated by Create Now!