Meet the Team
Who We Are
Shannon Murphy
Founder & CEO
Shannon Murphy, BSEd, MA has been teaching secondary and collegiate level English Writing Composition courses for the last decade. She has dedicated herself to the edification of young adults, and is driven to uplift the voices of young WOC through the art of creative writing. She is responsible for creative management, designing and cultivating the content of the program and allocating resources to manage the program efficiently.
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John Sisounthone
Executive Assistant & Program Manager
John holds a Masters in Business Administration and Program Management Professional Certification. With vast experience in leadership and program management, alongside his B.A. concentration in Organizations and Social Problems, Urban Youth and Communities, he has a passion for developing safe spaces within the community for POC and supervising programs to help them thrive. John utilizes his skills in financial literacy and management to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the organization.
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Jamie Bland, MSW
Mental Health Specialist
Jamie has worked with black and brown youth for over a decade. She is an expert in both group facilitating and individual counseling, prioritizing her client’s mental health. Her philosophy for guided healing includes using creative tools, such as writing, to help participants overcome trauma and insecurity. She assists in program development to ensure all initiatives uplift our community.
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Jayla Dennis
Project Coordinator, H.E.R. Society @ UNCC
Jayla participated in our first H.E.R. cohort, and upon graduating, transferred to our team. Previously she presented a poem in memory of Trayvon Martin at the United Strings of Color Vigil on Juneteenth 2021. When she's not working with WFF, she serves as an editor of a college literary magazine and is a full time student at UNC Charlotte, studying Psychology in hopes of serving the mental health needs of the BIPOC community.
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