Emilee Shell is a native of Ridgeland, Mississippi. She began her advocacy work advocating for human trafficking victims and shedding light in her community. Living in long-term recovery from substance abuse, she has faced many stigmas.

Emilee was asked to be a directly impacted speaker with the Mississippi Poor People’s Campaign, and that’s where she found her purpose. After a short time working on the campaign, Emilee was hired as a State Campaign Organizer to help organize the largest, mass, low-wage workers’ assembly and march on Washington, D.C., in 2022.

Emilee’s passion for helping formerly incarcerated/justice-impacted people lit a fire inside of her. Being a voice and inspiring others to use their own voice has been liberating and powerful. Currently, Emilee is a GOTV organizer with the campaign and is looking forward to continuing to mobilize and organize. She is also the director of a large sober living facility in which 90% of the women are formerly incarcerated. In this position she gets to share her own experience, strength, and hope with these ladies on a daily basis while educating and empowering them in their own recovery and resources to ensure success in their lives.