Shanice Turner

Atlanta, Georgia

Two weeks after graduating from Waukegan High School in Illinois, Shanice Turner hitched a ride with her visiting father to Atlanta, Georgia. She knew she wanted “opportunity, education, foundation, and something better”. Shanice wanted to see growth and improvement in her life. She wanted to go places. Four months after leaving Waukegan, Shanice enrolled as a freshman in college. Shanice is currently working on a BA degree in Business Management at Eastern Gateway College. “Something better” is definitely on her immediate horizon.

Shanice joined Year Up in Atlanta in 2012. As a result, she gained job experience and exposure to a whole new world of career and professionalism. Four years after her life-altering decision to pack up and head south, she works in the Gate City Day Nursery Association as Grant Manager. She volunteers with numerous organizations like Year Up of Greater Atlanta, United Way, Aspen Institute Opportunity Youth Incentive Fund, Welcome America, and many more.

Shanice would one day like to become a program/project manager in the area of education, youth development, and advocacy work. She would like to push for the various programs that seek to level the educational playing field for all children, regardless of their economic background. Shanice has a passion for youth advocacy and children welfare. Turner feels that “education is the gateway to those opportunities that help to mold oneself.”

Two of Shanice’s favorite quotes are “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi & “A famous explorer once said that the extraordinary is in what we do, not who we are.”- Lara Croft

Sponsoring Organization: Member-at-Large