About us
Shanell Dunns is a Community Empowerment Coach and CEO of Roots & Bridges, LLC. Since moving to Newark in 1998, she has been a bold fighter for community restoration and education equality.
Prior to founding Roots & Bridges, Shanell served as Newark City Deputy Director for the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and Director of Community Outreach for the New Jersey Chapter of Democrats for Education Reform Now. With work focused on parent empowerment, community engagement and campaign management, she is one of Newark's top advocacy trainers and brings extensive experience in community organizing, grassroots mobilizing, supporting transformational statewide reforms and creating strategic partnerships on behalf of philanthropic and civic leaders.
Additionally, Shanell facilitates civic responsibility forums centered on various New Jersey policy areas and speaks publicly across the state.
As a Veteran of the United States Army, Shanell's experience of service serves as an anchor in establishing key strategies in areas of leadership development, political organizing and project management. Her passion for social justice fuels her mission to achieve sustainable change in the community. However, her most prized accomplishments are her 5 children and 2 grandchildren.
