Sheletta Brundidge is a mother of four, a podcast host, activist, author and so much more to name. USA Today has appointed her Minnesota Woman of the Year.
The annual award by the national news organization recognizes female honorees in every state who have made significant contributions to their community.
She currently resides in Cottage Grove, MN, as part of the Minneapolis/St Paul’s metro area. And she has a podcast platform and production company for black folks.
Her podcast ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com is where she use her activism to assist other black show hosts. She is also an advocate for autism, in which she is now caring for her son Daniel.
If you are ever on her Twitter page, she is never short of speaking about her son’s progress. Moreover, he can not speak but he is a force to reckon with when it comes to music.
USA Today recognized her most importantly for her work with families with special need children.
According to Minnesota Spokeman Recorder, she’d worked with the Minnesota legislature to pass a bill establishing autism training for police officers to prepare them for encounters with non-verbal citizens. She collaborated with the NFL to establish sensory-friendly rooms in stadiums.
She also partnered with the Minnesota Health Department to promote early testing for autism among families of color. When her own kindergartner mentioned that she couldn’t find a picture book about Black children on the autism spectrum, Brundidge went to work. She wrote a book based on her daughter’s real-life experiences.
A second picture book followed and a third is in the works, providing families, teachers, and libraries with stories about children previously neglected by the publishing industry.
Be prepared to hear more great things about Sheletta Brundidge in the coming days.
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