116: Healing as Resistance // Social Medicine and the Heart of Community Liberation

Artist Shelley Bruce is a 4th generation, Black Los Angelino, sharing her service work with a focus on the arts, healing and activism. With two Bachelors in Ethnic Studies and Fine Art, for nearly 20 years, Shelley has performed poetry at hundreds of shows, directed nonprofit organizations, and organized social justice programs throughout Southern California. She has most notably traveled to Washington DC, New York, Ghana, London, Barcelona, and across Southern California sharing her artistic expression. Her first book of poetry titled On Blooming (2018) first poetry album Heaven Here (2021), and newest poetry EP “MVP.iii” (2024) reflect some of her published bodies of work. Shelley is also the founder of grassroots movements Day of Healing and BIPOC cultural production company The Heart Dept. Her central focus is to create wellbeing for all people through compassion-centered, sustainable movements.theheartdept.cowww.instagram.com/artistshelleybruce