Shanay N. Fulton is a City Councilor, public servant, strategist, and author committed to building systems that center dignity, access, and long-term stability for families and communities.

She currently serves on the Middletown City Council, where her work focuses on governance, accountability, land use, workforce development, and policies that strengthen economic mobility. Shanay is known for bringing clarity, preparation, and lived experience into public decision-making — bridging community realities with institutional responsibility.

Civic & Public Leadership

In addition to her role on City Council, Shanay is the Program Director of Middletown WORKS, a Working Cities Initiative, where she leads cross-sector strategy to improve workforce pathways and family economic mobility. Her leadership centers on collaboration between municipalities, education systems, employers, and community organizations.

Shanay previously served on the Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission, where she was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2021. She also serves in statewide leadership roles, including on the Governor’s Workforce Council, where she co-chairs a workforce subcommittee focused on family-centered economic strategy.

Experience & Perspective

Shanay’s work is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience. Her background spans education, community advocacy, child and family systems, and domestic violence prevention. She has worked within public schools, nonprofits, and municipal structures, often serving as a bridge between families and the systems meant to support them.

Her lived experience navigating housing instability, employment access, childcare, and legal systems continues to inform her approach to policy, governance, and program design — with an emphasis on solutions that are practical, ethical, and sustainable.

Writing & Public Voice

Shanay is the author of Peace, Happiness, Love: A Journey to Healing and is currently working on her next body of work, a reflective project exploring leadership, justice, spirituality, and motherhood in public life, shaped by her lived experience.

She has been featured on public media, podcasts, and legislative panels discussing workforce development, community resilience, governance, and equity.

Education & Recognition

Shanay holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Haven and a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Business from Fordham University.

She has received numerous honors recognizing her leadership in community service, advocacy, and public life.

She lives in Middletown, Connecticut with her children and continues to lead with the belief that rooted leadership and clear governance create lasting change.