Shanay Fulton is a native of New York
and a graduate of Fordham University
with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Fashion Design and Business. After graduating
she took her passion for fashion and began her
career as a Design Assistant for multiple
fashion houses in New York. Her dreams of
being a Fashion Designer were halted with the
birth of her eldest son.
Being a single mother, she learned how to navigate the workforce and ultimately relocated to Meriden, Connecticut, where she gave birth to her youngest son. She would then become a victim of domestic violence and spend the next several years struggling with legal advocacy surrounding her children, homelessness, employment issues, inadequate childcare, lack of transportation, and insufficient housing.
She relocated to Middletown, Connecticut and became involved in her community, attending community organizing meetings with the North End Action Team and volunteering with New Horizons Domestic Violence Shelter. She eventually began a career within the Middletown Public Schools as a paraprofessional and ultimately as the Family Resource Specialist.
During the summer months, she ran a program for local youth at North End Action Team helping youth with advocacy and creating programs. She was invited to be a parent leader for Middletown Works, a Working Cities Initiative, ultimately becoming the Co-Chair and now the current Program Director. Her personal struggles led her to a life of politics, running her first political race and winning a seat on her local Planning & Zoning Commission in 2019 and re-election in 2021.
Being recognized for her leadership skills, Shanay was chosen to sit as a representative for parents on boards and commissions across the state such as the Governor’s Workforce Council, of which she co-chairs the Workforce Subgroup, Vice President of the Russell Library, Vice President of Children in Placement a Child Welfare organization, a Board Member for the Open Communities Alliance for Zoning. Shanay was a panelist for the 2020 CT General Assembly Legislative Session, as well as the United Way Young Leaders Circle.
She was featured as a guest on the podcast Uptown Girls NYC during Domestic Violence Month and as a recurring guest on the “This Might Be Risky” podcast.
Shanay has an extensive background in child welfare advocacy, domestic violence issues and community organizing. She is also a recipient of the 2020 Women in NAACP Award for Community Service, the Class of 2022 Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence Advocate Honoree, 2022 Phenomenal Women in Business Award for Community Service, a State Certified Domestic Violence Advocate, a Nominee for the New Beauty Magazine Fab 40 Award, a Middlesex United Way 2023 Justin Wilkie Next Generation Award Honoree, a 100 Women of Color Class of 2023 Honoree.
She is currently in her final semester of grad school, at the University of New Haven where she is studying Public Administration. She resides in Middletown, Connecticut with her children and partner.
