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. 

While her humility is evident, her light effortlessly overflows into the lives of others. Shelly is the recipient of several awards and recognitions. Most notably, she serve as MILWAUKEE'S 2025-2026 POET LAUREATE.

A Jill of all trades, Shelly Conley is all things creative and inspiring. 

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.

Shelly facilitates her own workshops  in schools, corporate settings and healing spaces.

She enjoys hosting open mics and events, many curated by her.

You can also find Shelly behind the scenes of many theater and film productions. Her most active role is as a stage manager. She was one of several top  Milwaukee and Chicago poets featured in Emmy-Nominated Director, Brad Pruitt's documentary 'Mark My Words'. She also made appearances in 'Feel My Pain', a film by Masika McCormick and 'The Last Week', a film by Emmy Award winning director Santana Coleman.

Shelly has traveled the states inspiring people with her raw, and unapologetically transparent, poetic messages. Poetry is her first Love! Her first chapbook release was in 2003, followed by a CD release in 2004. Most recently she released a chapbook, FREEING and REWIND-A CATHARTIC AUTOBIOGRAPHY. She also co-authored A JOURNEY TO HEAL SELF HEAL HER. 

“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 is featured in Poet Laureate Emerita, Dasha Kelly Hamilton's 2025 release, 'A Line Meant' and 'Cries for Justice: Poems for Dontre Hamilton' and has made repeat appearances in The Children are Crying calendar.

To see snippets of her work, please visit HERE