Invest in Shanai’s Pursuit of her Creative Dreams

OKAY. TAKE 2, y’all! My name is Shanai, I’m an artist from the Bronx, seeking your support to continue pursuing my dreams in NYC.

At the top of last year I became homeless unexpectedly and through no fault of my own.

And now after a whole year of not letting my circumstances dictate my how aggressively I invest in my creative pursuits (writing, acting, singing, dancing, creating my own my business to cultivate creative community and more), I want to invite you to invest in me just as much.

This past year has been a wild, extremely challenging, and somehow even more rewarding ride.

Through it all, I’ve been able to find comfort in the uncomfortable & strength in my ability to quickly assess my options and pivot as needed. I’ve witnessed how I thrive in spaces where I can couple my passion for learning with my desire to build new skills. I’ve pushed myself to take up space in places where I’ve HAD to be vulnerable and face my fears in order to grow. I’ve welcomed in constructive criticism as a close friend, fear as a navigation tool, and anger or frustration as a reflection point.

With the constant of housing instability, the pressure to find or create financial stability, all while clinging tightly to my creative dreams, where money isn’t the reason I do anything, it's just a bonus for the things I’m already willing to pour myself into; I discovered the joy in and of the journey. And with this realization an entirely new internal world has blossomed inside of me.

Now I am ready to ask for the help I need in building this internal landscape out into the physical world around me.

With YOUR help in reaching my fundraising goal of $125,000, through sharing and donating, I’ll be able to:

- Cover 1-2 year’s worth of rent in NYC ~ 50k
- Invest in my business ShanaiSpace, which is dedicated to helping other creatives build their brand & image (especially those who don’t have much money or resources). The money would allow me to get gear/props needed for creative photoshoots as well as cover any other costs associated with supporting my clients who can’t afford the help they need. ~45k
- Invest in self; as a multifaceted artist I am always looking to build my skills and stretch myself further creatively. This money would support me in continuing acting classes, dance classes, improv classes and vocal lessons (and more). ~10k
- Pay off my college debt ~10k Pay my therapist, who has been working for FREE (for years!) strictly because she is invested in my well-being ~5k &
- Lastly, Take a much-needed vacation. I deserve that rest. ~5k

(the money allotments above are approximations)

At the beginning of this journey I thought I needed to raise money in order to be the full-time artist and creative consultant that I am, but the truth is, I never stopped creating.

Despite my struggles and uncertain circumstances, I’ve continued working. Writing, singing, dancing, auditioning, photographing. Connecting with others. The work I am choosing to do in this world goes beyond the dollar sign. And now that I’m completely clear on that, I see that raising this money by offering my dreams, desires, and perspective to you transparently is the necessary next step in allowing them to manifest further.

To see some of my recent work and stay up to date on what I am doing, feel free to check out my Instagram. To get a better idea of what ShanaiSpace is, check out my Website. (I’ll be updating it again very soon) To learn more about me, check out my Youtube or my Podcast.

I am eternally grateful for your time, attention, and support. Every cent and every share counts.

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. <3