Shedia A. Nelson is a prolific screenwriter/playwright, published poet, spoken word artist, biographer and editor as well as a talented performing artist. She was the editor of two professional psychology books at graduate level written for a psychologist in Hawai`i. Currently, Ms. Nelson is in the creative writing process of two autobiographies, a non-fiction story and two screenplays by commission, as well as two screenplays and a novel of her own. She teaches seven classes in creative writing, family literacy, hip hop and west African dance, acting, public speaking and community involvement for URGENT, Inc.
      URGENT, Inc. is a non-profit organization that facilitates Urban Renewal within traditionally disenfranchised communities by enhancing the quality of life of urban residents using a variety of strategies, programs and resources to improve the physical, social and economic health of urban neighborhoods. The Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Academy is an intensive, focused and sustained prevention and intervention approach that empowers youth and families with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to enhance their quality of life. The Academy currently has three programs under its umbrella.
      Ms. Nelson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with a concentration in Theater. She received her degree at Hawai`i Pacific University (HPU) in Honolulu, HI. She directed a scene from an original two-act play. The theater director selected Ms. Nelson as the assistant director for The Three Little Foxes production at HPU. Ms. Nelson made her acting debut in Windows of Opportunity as part of the production Act One: An Evening of Comedy directed by students.
      During her senior year, Ms. Nelson toured with the Up with People international program (UWP). UWP had a partnership with HPU where she received academic credit towards her degree. The UWP program is an experiential educational program where the world is the classroom and the stage is a forum to deliver the message of peace around the world with an original Broadway style musical production A Common Beat. Ms. Nelson traveled with a cast of 130 people from 23 countries, stayed with 60 host families while contributing to over a hundred hours of community service.
      By the end of the yearlong program, she had performed 99 shows, traveled to 73 cities and 8 countries. One of her momentous performances included a performance in four languages before the pope and two million people for World Youth Day in Rome, Italy. She assisted two event coordinators with arranging meals, host families, event sites and marketing publicity for 130 cast members in three weeks in France while on tour. Ms. Nelson’s poetry publications appear in:

WHISPERS IN THE WIND – NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY

PATH NOT TAKEN – NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY

BEST POEMS OF 1995 – NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY

BEST POEMS OF THE ‘90’s - NATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY

MIRRORS – ILIAD PRESS

SWEETHEART POEMS – POETRY UNLIMITED

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE – POETRY UNLIMITED

HAWAI`I PACIFIC UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER – KALAMALAMA

COLORS OF LIGHT - INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY OF POETRY

BEST POETS AND POETRY OF 2003 - NATIONAL LIBRARY
OF POETRY