Shanelle Gabriel

Shanelle Gabriel is an internationally touring speaker, poet, and lupus advocate from Brooklyn, NY, celebrated for transforming events with her blend of spoken word, storytelling, and insight. From HBO’s Def Poetry Jam to Carnegie Hall, the Vatican, and global festivals, her performances have captivated audiences worldwide. She has shared stages with icons including Jill Scott, Nas, Nikki Giovanni, and Kerry Washington, and is known for delivering experiences that audiences never forget.

Gabriel’s specialty lies in creating dynamic keynotes that weave spoken word poetry into powerful conversations on resilience, unity, creativity, and thriving with chronic illness. Diagnosed with lupus in 2004, she brings authenticity and inspiration to every stage, offering messages that resonate across industries. She has delivered keynotes for the National Press Club alongside the former NIH Director, ADCOLOR, BioNJ’s Innovation Celebration, and the 2025 Congressional Briefing on Lupus Research on Capitol Hill. Her international health and arts advocacy and artistry have been featured on the cover of USA Today, in Women’s Health, and on the Lifetime Network.

Audiences and event organizers particularly value Gabriel’s signature “poetic recaps”—custom closing and themed poems that distill the essence of a conference or event mission into an unforgettable finale. She has brought this unique offering to Fast Company’s Innovation Festival, the Girl Scouts of Greater NY, and numerous national conferences. She has crafted poetic messaging for national campaigns with Pandora music, the NFL Draft, Hershey, and more.

In addition, Gabriel has hosted and emceed major events with Lincoln Center, the Museum of the City of New York, the African Diaspora Awards, University of California-Riverside Alumni Gala, and the Billie Holiday Theater. With her background in Communications and a master’s degree from Columbia University, Gabriel has lectured at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education, The New School, Georgia State University on healing through the arts, utilizing poetry and hip-hop as pathways for genuine understanding and community connection. She has also spoken at hospitals and bio pharma companies on ways to center the patient voice and improve the patient-provider relationship.

Whether as a keynote speaker, performer, or emcee, Shanelle Gabriel elevates events by leaving audiences inspired, connected, and energized long after the final word.