Sharielle Applewhite

Sharielle is a Black first-generation American with roots proudly planted in Trinidad and Tobago. Being a product of both forced and voluntary migration, cultivated her passion for social justice especially in the context of the African diaspora.

She completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at the University of Connecticut. Afterwards, she received her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Hunter College with a method concentration in Community Organizing, Planning and Development.

For the last 8 years, she has worked with educational institutions and non-profits in New York City. As Program Manager at Summer Search, she professionally mentored high schoolers. She also led the group mentoring model, which brought students together to discuss how identity, power and privilege exist in various aspects of their lives. Prior to that, she was an organizer with the Undoing Racism Internship Project. She worked within schools of social work to advocate for an equity lens in the school curriculum and culture.

She currently facilitates workshops and teaches classes about anti-oppression in the social work field. The framework she operates from, intentionally highlights the experiences of those most historically marginalized and recognizes how intersectionality informs a person’s relationship to power. In the midst of this critical work, she loves finding moments of joy.