Who is She?
Shaleka Smith is a speaker, author, trained end-of-life doula, and healthcare professional who brings honesty, compassion, and hope to conversations around grief, healing, and life’s hardest transitions. Born and raised in Chicago, she blends lived experience with empathy, humor, and practical insight to create spaces where people feel seen and supported.
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She is the author of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This and the Letters to Heaven Journal Series, resources widely used by individuals and communities navigating loss. Shaleka is also a certified sexual assault crisis worker, further strengthening her ability to walk alongside those impacted by trauma and grief.
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Drawing from both professional training and personal experience, Shaleka speaks with clarity and authenticity about pain, resilience, and healing. She is frequently invited to lead workshops, panels, retreats, and conferences focused on grief, mental health, and personal growth.
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If you’re looking for a speaker who is relatable, grounded, and deeply impactful, Shaleka Smith brings both presence and purpose to every room.
Quotes
Grief has a negative reputation no matter what you are grieving. Unfortunately, no one ever shares what u can gain from a grief experience.
When you enter the classroom for the first time, everyone talks to you about preparing kids for assessments and making sure that you teach the standards but no one mentors you on the pain and anguish associated with the loss of a child.
Two things happen when I hear or say his name, either a schoolgirl smile or tears. Sometimes both. Sometimes it starts as a smile and ends in tears.
Anonymous,
Get Up
Alea Allen,
Empty Seat
Tracy Cruz,
My William
