Shatina Edwards is the Founder and Executive Director of M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment™, an award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women through leadership development, mental wellness, mentorship, violence prevention, and social-emotional learning. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, Shatina is a certified Life Coach and Mentor who has dedicated her life to creating safe, empowering spaces where girls can develop the confidence, resilience, and leadership skills needed to thrive.

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Shatina's passion for youth advocacy began in 2006 through volunteerism, mentoring, and community service. Over the years, she has actively served youth through schools, churches, and community organizations, recognizing the need for intentional programs that equip girls with the tools to overcome adversity and realize their full potential.

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Inspired by her own experience of being bullied during middle school, Shatina became determined to create a program that would empower girls to avoid negativity, find their voices, and build healthy relationships. Driven by this mission, she spent two years partnering with the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, observing peer interactions among girls in both school and extracurricular settings. Through this work, she identified common behavioral patterns and environmental factors that contributed to bullying, including limited positive role models, a desire for acceptance, unhealthy peer influences, and girls who were unaware of the impact of their own behaviors.

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From her research and observations, Shatina developed the guiding philosophy, "Avoid Negativity and Embrace Creativity," a message that continues to serve as the foundation of M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment™. Her vision became the catalyst for launching M.E.A.N. (Manage Emotions Avoid Negativity) Girls Empowerment™ in 2014 as a nonprofit organization focused on bullying prevention, violence reduction, and mentoring for young girls.

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As the organization grew, so did its mission. What began as a bullying prevention initiative evolved into a comprehensive youth development organization that addresses the whole girl through leadership development, mental wellness, social-emotional learning, mentorship, violence prevention, life skills, and community engagement. Today, M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment™ serves as a trusted community resource, providing evidence-informed programming, safe spaces, family engagement, mentoring, and transformative experiences that equip girls to lead with confidence, resilience, and purpose.

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Through her visionary leadership, Shatina has grown M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment™ into an award-winning nonprofit organization that has empowered more than 2,500 girls and young women throughout the Chicagoland area. Under her leadership, the organization has become recognized for creating innovative, culturally responsive programming that strengthens girls, supports families, and builds healthier communities.

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Building upon the success of M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment™, Shatina launched M.E.A.N. Girls University™ in 2019 to further extend her mission to young women ages 18–24. Designed to prepare emerging women for adulthood, higher education, and professional success, the initiative focuses on leadership development, career readiness, financial empowerment, personal growth, and healthy decision-making.

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In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Shatina brings more than 19 years of progressive leadership experience in the healthcare industry. She currently serves as a Senior Director of Network Management for a leading managed care organization, where she provides strategic oversight of provider network operations, develops collaborative partnerships, and leads initiatives that improve access to quality healthcare services for diverse populations. Her expertise in executive leadership, strategic planning, operations, relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration strengthens her ability to build sustainable community programs, lead high-performing teams, and create innovative solutions that positively impact both healthcare and the communities she serves.

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Shatina is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® and is recognized for her expertise in executive leadership, organizational development, strategic planning, community partnerships, and program innovation. Her leadership and community impact have been featured by ABC 7 Chicago, FOX 32 Chicago, NBC 5 Chicago, and Essence, recognizing her commitment to youth empowerment, community engagement, and creating opportunities that help girls and young women thrive.

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Under Shatina's leadership, M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment™ has received national recognition, including the National Bullying Prevention Center Champion Award (2022) and the Unity Award (2023) for its outstanding commitment to bullying prevention, youth empowerment, and community leadership.

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Shatina holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from Governors State University and a Master of Science in Health Administration from Purdue University. As an entrepreneur, wife, mother, and community leader, she leads with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

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Today, Shatina's vision extends far beyond creating programs—she is building a lasting movement that equips girls and young women with the confidence, leadership skills, emotional wellness, and opportunities they need to thrive. Through M.E.A.N. Girls Empowerment™, she remains committed to expanding access to mentorship, mental health resources, leadership development, and life-changing experiences that empower the next generation of leaders. Her mission is not only to transform individual lives but to strengthen families, inspire communities, and create a legacy of empowered girls who grow into confident, compassionate, and impactful women.