about us
amelia "mel" Shenstone
Mel combines top-notch organizing skills gained while working in the energy and environment sectors with her emotional literacy from pastoral care. She connects with people across racial, class, political, and urban/rural lines and has worked in geographies as diverse as New England, New Orleans, Appalachia, working class midwestern communities, Florida, and Georgia.
As a Euro-American woman, Mel is particularly attuned to the learning needs of culturally white, progressive individuals and organizations, and enjoys partnering with leaders of color for transformation.
Mel directed programs for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy for many years, where she steered internal strategic planning and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She was the youngest-ever president of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta; she remains an educator and worship leader while progressing toward ordained ministry.
Colleagues highlight her “spiritual vitality” and ability to “keep everyone at the table and remind us of our commitments,” as well her mindfulness of leadership development. As a chaplain at Grady Memorial Hospital she deepened her ability to process the difficult emotions that can arise as individuals confront systemic oppression, and change in general.
Mel is a graduate of Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing, and Mount Holyoke College.
Training Background
Mel has received extensive training that informs her consulting approach:
- Fundamentals of Facilitation for Racial Justice Conversations (Interaction Institute for Social Change)
- Beloved Conversations (The Fahs Collaborative at Meadville Lombard Theological School)
- Exploring Power, Privilege, and Tools for Change (Center for Diversity and the Environment)
- Managing for Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Results and Managing to Change the World (The Management Center)
- Groundwater & Phase I (Racial Equity Institute)