Poet Laureate Life

Shelly Conley experienced most of her youth in Milwaukee’s 53206 zip code, an area notoriously known for having the highest incarceration rate of black men in the country. If she lived by society's labels, she may have seen a different life. Instead, she decided to lose the restraints often associated with those labels and embraced the lessons learned along her journey: the fight, the Love, the loss, and the resilience. Born with a unique balance of creativity and discipline, Shelly's weapon of choice has always been her pen.  Her poetry and writing encourages, empowers, and celebrates the culture. Shelly is  the co-author of My Sista’s Keepher: A Journey to Heal Self & Heal Her.  December 2023 she  released a new book, Rewind: A Cathartic Autobiography.

While her humility is evident, her light effortlessly overflows into the lives of others. Shelly is the recipient of several awards, including Saved in the City’s MKE Treasure Award, Poetry Unplugged’s Power of Voice Award and Trendsetters Sisterhood Award.

A Jill of all trades, Shelly Conley is all things creative. She has traveled the states inspiring people with her raw, and unapologetically transparent, poetic messages. Poetry is her first Love! She added author to her arsenal amidst the pandemic with My Sista's KeepHer A JOURNEY TO HEAL SELF HEAL HER. In 2023 she released REWIND-A CATHARTIC AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Shelly has worked in and outside of the classroom with youth for more than twenty years. As the Program Director for My Sista's KeepHer, she works year round with young ladies using poetry and writing as a tool to encourage self-Love, self-reflection and positive self-expression.

You can also find Shelly behind the scenes of many theater and film productions. Her most active role is as a stage manager. 2023 was her year to come from behind the scenes. She made appearances in 'Feel My Pain', a film by Masika McCormick and 'The Last Week', a film by Emmy Award winning director Santana Coleman.

“Her quiet truth holds no punches. Shelly has somehow brought us a modern-day mix of Sonia Sanchez and Lauryn Hill, with a tattoo of Tupac for her favorite MC of all time. Her writing is reflective, forgiving, and cathartic for those who need to let it go.”

~Kwabena Antoine Nixon, CEO of Be Inspired Works

"Shelly is a powerful writer who articulates complicated emotions with clarity. I'd Love to meet her someday."    -Lin, Retired English Teacher

"Such a powerful transformational journey. This book will surely change lives. I cried for you and your pain and redemption. I cried because I saw my daughter and I in pages."-Dr. M. Ward

In addition to her own published works, Shelly has been featured in Timbooktu, Cries for Just: Poems for Dontre Hamilton and has made repeat appearances in The Children are Crying calendar.

To see snippets of her work, please visit HERE