I'm Serine, and the most significant obstacle to my growth has been the consequences of shame internalized.

It has limited me in various ways, but more than anything, kept me from believing in myself and pursuing my dreams.

As a mixed-race Black woman who grew up in a low-income home with a single mother, I understand the impact of systems of oppression and their interconnectedness. I also understand that when we assimilate into whiteness, we abandon ourselves. Unintentionally burying our dreams deep under layers of shame—the consequence of suffocating in the hazy fog of colonial, delusional white supremacist, heteropatriarcal, capitalist culture.

I believe we all deserve our dreams, so I am committed to helping radical and purpose-driven creatives transcend perceived limitations to commit our greatest act of resistance: living the lives of our wildest dreams. When we free our dreams, we discover a pathway to our collective liberation, and together, we work to dismantle systems of oppression.

With over 17 years experience specializing in business operations, I possess the expertise to challenge conventional ways of doing things. And, for the last eight years, I have been facilitating and designing transformative workshops while simultaneously going through my unfolding.

If you're ready to break free from limitation and embark on a journey toward the life you've always dreamed of, I invite you to join me.

I’m a…

  • Creative Entrepreneur

  • Entrepreneur Strategist

  • Experiential Facilitator

  • Writer & Culture Critic

Shame dies when stories are told in safe places.”

— ANNETTE SIMMONS

HOW IT STARTED

In 2016, I became a trained facilitator through the Alternative to Violence Project (AVP), starting at High Desert State Prison (HDSP), a men’s maximum-security facility. Additionally, I worked in the county jail, delivering rehabilitative services and leading Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based groups for a substantial caseload.

In July 2017, I launched Liberating Library at HDSP, a radical experiential book club. It was the first of its kind, aimed at challenging the men’s limiting beliefs while exploring connections to the social issues directly impacting their lives. This book club gradually evolved into what is now Shift from Shame, where I offer transformational virtual and in-person workshops. In 2021, I was honored to be invited as a Board Member for Prison From-The-Inside-Out (FTIO), an organization offering programs authored by E'drick Brown (V-70186), whom I met and co-facilitated AVP workshops with at HDSP.

Downtown Willows, CA

MY JOURNEY TOWARDS LIBERATION

In 2016, I participated in a workshop at a maximum-security prison, where on the final day, something within me began to unravel. As I shared the story of losing my father to cancer, I broke down, experiencing uncontrollable crying and feeling inconsolable. Though the grief of his passing lingered, my tears weren't solely for that loss. I didn't understand it then, but I felt something in me set free.

Four years later, the pandemic brought solitude and an awakening that helped me understand why I broke down that day. It was the first time I felt validated for the impact of my loss. I realized that no one (family or friends) had ever asked how I was doing. My body acknowledged what my mind couldn’t comprehend. It had been five years since my dad passed, and it was the first time I felt safe enough to cry. For a brief moment, the men created a space where I felt safe enough to let go, and my heart cracked wide open.

Before 2020, I did not identify with the feeling of shame, but the cathartic experience of breaking down during the workshop led me to reveal emotions I had long suppressed. Amidst the solitude and reflection, I began to understand the significance of that moment. I realized that my tears were not only for the loss of my father but also for the years of unacknowledged pain and the weight of societal expectations that I had carried silently. That day served as a catalyst, propelling me into a journey of self-discovery and healing, where I started confronting the complexities of shame and the pervasive influence it has on all parts of our lives.

AVP Workshop at High Desert State Prison

Upper Park Chico, CA

Let’s chat!!