At 12 years old, Shelancia was introduced to the nonprofit world when she launched her own fundraiser to raise funds to ship a shipping container filled with food to Africa. 

 

From 2010 – 2014, Shelancia lived in Lagos, Nigeria, where she spent the time planning and organizing creative events for the students in local schools.  Upon returning to the United States, Shelancia missed having the ability to use outside the box and outside the classroom methods to educate children, so she went back to school to obtain her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology.  She then used her knowledge of sewing, art, cooking, and crafting to launch the Creativity Shell in 2015.

 

Today, the Creativity Shell is a non-profit organization on a mission to use creative trades to educate and inspire the next generation of makers. The organization teaches classes such as sewing/textile arts, cooking, building, and other creative trades to students in their studios, and in libraries, schools, ABA therapy centers, and the juvenile justice system.  

They also work with shelters that rescue children from homelessness and human trafficking. They currently have two chapters in Houston, TX and Rochester, NY. The organization is planning to open the first of its kind Community Service Center which will offer trades/art classes to children plus provide services such as free mental health therapy.  

 

The Love Bug project began as a collaboration between Shelancia and Creativity Shell Program Director Laurelei Horton. A group of Girl Scouts wanted to do a project where they could give back to the community.

Shelancia and Laurelei designed the Love Bugs as a fun project for the Scouts to make one for themselves and make another to give away to a child in need. The original Love Bugs were donated to children living in a residential facility at the Salvation Army in Houston, and the children absolutely loved them!

To read more about Moda's collaboration with Creativity Shell - Sew A Little Love Bug.

Shelancia has now added Moda Fabric Designer to her list of accomplishments with Creativity Glows.  

These kid-friendly prints includes one print that glows in the dark!  Projects are also designed for beginners, and to be kid-friendly.

This is Find Your Path, a 72" x 84" quilt that will be a Moda Project Sheet, and a Moda Kit.  (No. 47530)

All of these projects are from Pajama Pants for Kids by Taylor Made Designs (TMB 178).

Creativity Glows is showing to shops now, and it will be available in March 2022.

We also asked Shelancia to share a couple of things about herself.

What is your favorite color?

Caribbean Blue - The turquoise color from the Caribbean Sea.

What is your favorite season and why?

My favorite season is summer.  I like to be warm, and I love the fireflies at night when I’m in the North.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Absolutely a night owl!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a nicer version of the dentist from Little Shop of Horrors.  

What inspires you daily?

My kids Elijah, Micah and Noa are my biggest inspirations.  They have such unique personalities, and it’s been interesting to watch them grow.

What is your favorite food?

I love to eat!  It’s hard to narrow down what my favorite food is because it changes seasonally but if I had to choose one or a food group, I can’t live without fresh fruits!  Peaches, Plums, grapes, cherries - I spend a good amount each cherry season on cherries.

Where was your best vacation?

I lived in Africa for a few years and got the opportunity to travel to an abundance of countries on that side of the world.  One of my favorite places to visit was Cape Town South Africa. It is absolutely one of the most beautiful places on earth.

What is your favorite movie? Actress or Actor?

My all-time favorite movie is Muriel’s Wedding! My favorite actor is/was the late Chadwick Boseman.  

What are the words you live by?

Do unto others as you would like done on to you.

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For more with Shelancia and Creativity Shell:

• Website - www.creativityshell.org
• Instagram - @creativityshell
• Facebook - creativityshell