Empower

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Educate

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Advocate

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Support

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Empower ❃ Educate ❃ Advocate ❃ Support ❃

Who We Are

We are a grassroots, BIPOC-led organization committed to disrupting the cycle of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Black and Brown communities. Our mission is to connect survivors and their families with both immediate and long-term support to prevent revictimization and break generational cycles of abuse.

At Shaquera’s Story, we pride ourselves on providing culturally appropriate services and programming. Every team member has lived experience and/or identifies as a secondary survivor of IPV or substance use (SUD). In addition, all of our service providers have completed the 35-hour Domestic Violence Confidentiality training—ensuring our work is not only trauma-informed but survivor-centered.

Meet Our Founder

Shaquera Robinson, MPH
 Founder & Executive Director

Shaquera Robinson is a mother of three, educator, visionary leader, and survivor who turned her pain into purpose. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a focus on Management and Leadership (Summa Cum Laude, Rasmussen University, 2021), a Master’s Degree in Public Health (Rasmussen University, 2023), and an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (Bay State College, 2004).

With over 20 years of experience in education, advocacy, and community leadership, Shaquera has become a powerful voice in domestic violence prevention. Her lived experiences with sexual assault and domestic violence, combined with her professional training, qualify her as an expert on the epidemic of IPV.

She serves on several coalitions and committees, including TRAC, a statewide group of survivors, advocates, and organizations in MA seeking to expand legal protections for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, the Massachusetts Protected at Work Coalition, The Child Support Choice Coalition, and the Lower Roxbury Coalition Wellness Initiative, and Follow Suit Mentoring Program, where she serves as the Vice President, while also leading the Healthy Relationships workshops for the programs particiapants of young boys between the ages of 10-17 years old.

She also works as a Community Engagement Specialist for the Massachusetts Community Engagement Alliance (MA-CEAL) at Boston Medical Center, funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Boston City Council President and Boston City Councilor At-Large, Ruthzee Louijeune, declared July 16th Shaquera’s Story Day in the City of Boston. In recognition of Shaquera’s strength, advocacy, and commitment to ending domestic violence in Boston, and her leadership that has empowered survivors, raised awareness, and created pathways to healing and safety through Shaquera’s Story Domestic Violence Consulting and Coaching, Inc. 

Shaquera’s mantra is “We all we got”—a reminder of her commitment to disrupting cycles of generational trauma and uplifting survivors and families through advocacy, education, and coaching.

Our Leadership Team

  • Adriana is a community nurturer, a weaver of connection, and a believer in the power of love as a force for transformation. She leads with heart and humility, grounded in a deep commitment to justice, healing, and collective care. Her work is shaped by lived experience, guided by purpose, and elevated by a calling to build spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and heard.
    Adriana’s dedication and impact have been recognized with the National CASA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award, the 2023 Vital Village Innovation Award for Innovative Leadership, and a City of Boston Official Resolution for her activism and legislative advocacy on behalf of domestic violence survivors through Shaquera’s Story Domestic Violence Coaching and Consulting. She is a proud graduate of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice’s Social Impact Management and Leadership Program and the Vital Village Community Leadership and Advocacy Program.
    She is also a LeadBoston Program alum, part of YW Boston’s signature inclusive leadership program that brings together cross-sector changemakers to deepen their understanding of systemic inequity and lead with greater equity and intention. Through this experience, Adriana strengthened her systems-level lens and expanded her toolbox for building more inclusive, just communities.
    Adriana continues her advocacy as a member of the YW Boston Advocacy Committee, where she helps shape the organization’s policy agenda and amplify community-driven solutions that advance racial and gender equity. Her role reflects a deep commitment to civic leadership and to influencing change beyond organizational walls.
    Adriana currently serves as the Inaugural Board President of 100% Massachusetts, where she is co-leading the charge in building a statewide model inspired by 100% New Mexico—ensuring that all families in Massachusetts have access to the 10 vital services necessary for health, resilience, and long-term success.
    She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, which laid the groundwork for her work in leadership, curriculum development, and equity-centered strategies. She remains at the forefront of research and best practices, consistently delivering cutting-edge support to individuals, communities, and organizations.
    As Co-Founder of Shaquera’s Story, Adriana is deeply passionate about offering education, coaching, and healing-centered advocacy to survivors of domestic violence. Her commitment to children and families is rooted in her belief in the wisdom of intergenerational communities and their power to restore and uplift.
    In her role as an Expert Facilitator and Curriculum Developer, Adriana designs innovative training programs for child and family-serving nonprofits to help them expand their impact. She also serves as a Philanthropic Consultant with the Social Innovation Forum, where she advises on values-aligned giving for greater social change.
    Adriana teaches as an Adjunct Faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University, and contributes her leadership as a Board Member of Vital Village Networks and the Massachusetts CASA Association, where she supports advocacy and systems change for the well-being of children in the Commonwealth.
    Across every role, Adriana is driven by love—an active, dynamic, and transformative energy that she sees as essential to building inclusive, collaborative communities. Her vision is a world where all people are valued, all voices are heard, and future generations are free to thrive.

  • Kali brings 24 years of nonprofit, education, and advocacy experience, with a focus on empowering survivor voices. She has worked with youth in out-of-home placements, served seven years as an advocate and supervisor at Boston CASA, supported families and communities impacted by homicide, suicide and overdose as the Healing Support Services Manager at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.  In addition to her work with Shaquera's Story, Kali is currently the Boston L.O.S.S Team Coordinator for Dee Dee's Cry as well as facilitating Survivor of Suicide Attempts Support groups and community education trainings to increase suicide awareness for Samaritans, Inc.   Kali’s work is rooted in the belief that domestic violence is a public health crisis that must be addressed through survivor-led education, awareness, and healing.

  • Vladimir is a dedicated coach and consultant passionate about men’s mental health and trauma recovery. Drawing from his lived experience of witnessing domestic violence as a child, he brings a unique perspective as a man to Shaquera’s Story. By explaining the connection between childhood exposure to domestic violence and later-life mental health challenges, Vladimir works to foster resilience, understanding, and healing in survivors and communities.

    In addition to his leadership role, Vladimir facilitates men’s support groups each month, including MAN2MAN with DeeDee’s Cry and The Men’s Winning Circle. These groups create safe spaces for men to process trauma, share openly, and develop healthier coping strategies. His work emphasizes brotherhood, accountability, and personal growth, helping men build the tools they need to lead in their families and communities.

    Beyond Shaquera’s Story, Vladimir co-hosts the Roots & Rhythm Podcast, where he and his co-host explore healthy relationships, healing childhood trauma, personal development, spiritual growth, and parenting through the lens of their Afro-Caribbean heritage. He is also a motivational speaker, teaching organizations, schools, and communities how to foster present and effective leadership by prioritizing identity development and embracing lived experiences as pathways to growth

Fellows & Mentees

  • Hannah is a Tufts University MPH graduate (Class of 2025) with interests in maternal and child health, health policy, and social determinants of health. At SSDVCC, she focused on advocacy and survivor support, earning the 2025 H. Jack Geiger Public Health Advocacy Award for her contributions to public health and social justice.

  • Hello, my name is Jamie Pytlik, and I am a licensed social worker and a second-year law student at Rutgers Law School. My greatest passion in life is working with survivors of sexual assault, and I genuinely believe it’s what I was called to do. Before attending law school, I worked in sexual assault prevention and response at a District Attorney’s Office. In this role, I facilitated sexual violence prevention education on college campuses and provided trauma-focused therapy to teenage and young adult survivors of sexual violence. This experience, combined with a lifelong interest in pursuing a career as a lawyer, inspired me to attend law school. I wholeheartedly believe that every survivor deserves justice as they define it, and this type of justice often does not happen in a courtroom. I hope to combine my legal education with my social work background to become a more vigorous advocate for sexual assault survivors. My goal is to disrupt the systems of rape culture and victim blaming on the micro and macro levels so that survivors can more readily access the justice and healing that they deserve.

    I was inspired to work with Shaquera’s Story because of the program’s commitment to activism and advocacy on multiple levels for survivors of domestic violence. My therapist introduced me to the program, and I can’t imagine a better fit for my personal and professional goals. I love that the program is involved in every level of interpersonal violence advocacy —from prevention and activism to response. I am so inspired by the strong female leadership of the program. Shaquera is such an accomplished, driven, and passionate advocate, and I cannot wait to learn from her and the other dedicated members of this program.

  • Milly is a Tufts MPH graduate with a focus on health services management and policy. During her internship, she created policy briefs, infographics, and survivor resources on trauma-informed care and coercive control. Her next step is pursuing a Physician Assistant career to provide culturally sensitive care for underserved survivors.

  •  Xiaoou recently received her  MPH degree in epidemiology and biostatistics at Tufts University. Her practicum work with SSDVCC explored survivor health outcomes and public health data analysis. She is passionate about applying evidence-based research to improve prevention and support services for survivors of domestic violence.

  •  Sarah-Simone Dyer is a recent graduate of the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science, who is deeply honored to have the opportunity to collaborate on building a nonprofit sector of Shaquera’s Story that will not only provide resources but help educate youth and young adults about domestic and gender-based violence. Ssarah-Simone believes that this mission aligns with her passion and committement to serving underrepresented and vulnerable communities, especially in education and social justice. 

    What struck her most about Shaquera’s Story, is how fear and vulnerability coul be transformed into purpose and used as a foundation to help others. Sarah-Simone strongly believes that educating young people about the different attributions of domestic violence and how to navigate with these said experiences, while recognizing its complex outcomes, can truly help youth to speak out. Through first-hand experiences, Sarah-Simone has witnessed how equitable, intentional education can make a huge impact on a young person’s life. With mentorship and guidance from Shaquera, Sarah-Simone envisions that she too will bring depth to the sense of care and purpose that drives Shaquera’s Storys program infrastrucure that uplifts the voices and experiences of those who seek our services.

  • Mbuaya is a Molecular Diagnostic Scientist at Brigham & Women’s/Dana Farber and a  recent Tufts MPH student. Originally from Congo and raised in South Africa, she is passionate about preventive health, reproductive health, and addressing disparities in underserved populations. Her  work at SSDVCC focuses on using research and advocacy to break cycles of abuse.

  •  Shuheng is a Tufts MPH graduate with a concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics. He researched the intersections of domestic violence, mental health, and substance use to highlight the long-term health impacts on survivors. His work supports SSDVCC’s mission of combining research with advocacy for system-wide change.

  •  Miesha Parker is an Advocate, Educator, and Speaker with over a decade of lived experience navigating the child welfare, legal, and healthcare systems. She is committed to transforming these experiences into systemic change through professional trainings, keynote presentations, and consulting that equip organizations to better serve families and survivors.

    Her work spans child welfare reform, disability rights and housing justice, and domestic violence and healthcare system accountability. Miesha has spoken at national conferences and collaborated with organizations including Futures Without Violence, Families Rising, Children’s Trust, the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC), and the Massachusetts CASA Association. Her upcoming article on lived experience and systemic reform in child welfare will be featured in The Guardian, NACC’s national publication, in Winter 2025.

    As a mentee of Shaquera’s Story Domestic Violence Consulting and Coaching, Inc., Miesha continues to expand her leadership and consulting impact while carrying forward her mission of creating survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and equitable systems.

  • Nithaelle is an MPH candidate at Tufts and a clinician at High Point Treatment Center with extensive experience in substance use recovery and patient advocacy. Fluent in Haitian Creole, she brings a strong commitment to reproductive health and culturally competent survivor care. At SSDVCC, she contributes to survivor programming and coalition work.

  •  Ioanna is a Tufts MPH graduate t from Greece with a background as a national rhythmic gymnast, educator, and wellness entrepreneur. Her work at SSDVCC explored the health impacts of IPV across the U.S. and Greece, and she developed educational resources to connect trauma, health, and prevention.

  • Nike is a Clinical Research Coordinator and MPH candidate at Tufts University. She brings experience in clinical trials and community engagement, and works with youth programs to expand awareness of research and public health careers. At SSDVCC, she contributes to disrupting IPV through education, data, and outreach.

  • Brinda is completing her Master of Public Health at Southern Georgia University. At SSDVCC, she researched the impact of IPV on teens and pregnant women, created a workshop presentation, and evaluated programs addressing these issues. She looks forward to continuing her advocacy as an Ambassador for SSDVCC.

  • Kathryn is a law student at Boston University with a background in domestic violence reporting and legal clinic support. She has assisted survivors with restraining orders and family law matters, and is dedicated to centering marginalized voices in advocacy. At SSDVCC, she deepens her skills in survivor-centered, trauma-informed legal work. Kathryn was interested in becoming a mentee at Shaquera’s Story because she is passionate about empowering and advocating for survivors of domestic violence. She was especially drawn to the organization’s commitment to centering marginalized survivors, amplifying their stories, and creating spaces for healing and leadership. Kathryn also values Shaquera’s Story’s focus on education and community empowerment through trainings, and she looks forward to deepening her skills in survivor-centered, trauma-informed advocacy. With experience in both direct client work and storytelling, she is eager to learn from and contribute to a survivor-led movement that challenges systems of oppression and builds collective power. Kathryn is grateful for the opportunity to learn from Shaquera, whose advice and guidance have shown her how to transform lived experience into meaningful advocacy. Under Shaquera’s mentorship, Kathryn hopes to make the legal system more accessible for survivors.

  • Tamara is a physician and recent MPH graduate from Tufts with a focus on gender-based violence and teen dating violence prevention. She combines her clinical and public health expertise to support survivors through workshops and youth education. At SSDVCC, she advances trauma-informed community programming.

Fellows & Mentees

  • Onanike (Nike) Asupoto, MPH Fellow

    Nike is a Clinical Research Coordinator and MPH candidate at Tufts University. She brings experience in clinical trials and community engagement, and works with youth programs to expand awareness of research and public health careers. At SSDVCC, she contributes to disrupting IPV through education, data, and outreach.

  • Mbuaya Kalemba, MPH Fellow

    Mbuaya is a Molecular Diagnostic Scientist at Brigham & Women’s/Dana Farber and a  recent Tufts MPH student. Originally from Congo and raised in South Africa, she is passionate about preventive health, reproductive health, and addressing disparities in underserved populations. Her  work at SSDVCC focuses on using research and advocacy to break cycles of abuse.

  • Brinda Lamarre, MPH Fellow

    Brinda is completing her Master of Public Health at Southern Georgia University. At SSDVCC, she researched the impact of IPV on teens and pregnant women, created a workshop presentation, and evaluated programs addressing these issues. She looks forward to continuing her advocacy as an Ambassador for SSDVCC.

  • Hannah Prinz, MPH Fellow

    Hannah is a Tufts University MPH graduate (Class of 2025) with interests in maternal and child health, health policy, and social determinants of health. At SSDVCC, she focused on advocacy and survivor support, earning the 2025 H. Jack Geiger Public Health Advocacy Award for her contributions to public health and social justice.

  • Ioanna Diamantidou, MPH Fellow

     Ioanna is a Tufts MPH graduate t from Greece with a background as a national rhythmic gymnast, educator, and wellness entrepreneur. Her work at SSDVCC explored the health impacts of IPV across the U.S. and Greece, and she developed educational resources to connect trauma, health, and prevention.

  • Jamie Pytlik (Mentee)

    Jamie is a licensed social worker and rising 2L at Rutgers Law School with a passion for advocating for sexual assault survivors. She brings experience in prevention education, trauma-focused therapy, and advocacy within legal systems. Jamie hopes to merge law and social work to create stronger pathways to justice for survivors.

  • Kathryn Augustine (Mentee)

    Kathryn is a law student at Boston University with a background in domestic violence reporting and legal clinic support. She has assisted survivors with restraining orders and family law matters, and is dedicated to centering marginalized voices in advocacy. At SSDVCC, she deepens her skills in survivor-centered, trauma-informed legal work.

  • Milly Hernandez, MPH Fellow

    Milly is a Tufts MPH graduate with a focus on health services management and policy. During her internship, she created policy briefs, infographics, and survivor resources on trauma-informed care and coercive control. Her next step is pursuing a Physician Assistant career to provide culturally sensitive care for underserved survivors.

  • Nithaelle Simoly, MPH Fellow

    Nithaelle is an MPH candidate at Tufts and a clinician at High Point Treatment Center with extensive experience in substance use recovery and patient advocacy. Fluent in Haitian Creole, she brings a strong commitment to reproductive health and culturally competent survivor care. At SSDVCC, she contributes to survivor programming and coalition work.

  • Shuheng Li, MPH Fellow

     Shuheng is a Tufts MPH graduate with a concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics. He researched the intersections of domestic violence, mental health, and substance use to highlight the long-term health impacts on survivors. His work supports SSDVCC’s mission of combining research with advocacy for system-wide change.

  • Tamara Muir, MPH Fellow

    Tamara is a physician and recent MPH graduate from Tufts with a focus on gender-based violence and teen dating violence prevention. She combines her clinical and public health expertise to support survivors through workshops and youth education. At SSDVCC, she advances trauma-informed community programming.

  • Xiaoou Su, MPH Fellow

     Xiaoou recently received her  MPH degree in epidemiology and biostatistics at Tufts University. Her practicum work with SSDVCC explored survivor health outcomes and public health data analysis. She is passionate about applying evidence-based research to improve prevention and support services for survivors of domestic violence.

  • Miesha Parker MPH Fellow

    Miesha Parker is an Advocate, Educator, and Speaker with over a decade of lived experience navigating the child welfare, legal, and healthcare systems. She is committed to transforming these experiences into systemic change through professional trainings, keynote presentations, and consulting that equip organizations to better serve families and survivors.

  • Sarah-Simone Dyer (Mentee)

     Sarah-Simone Dyer is a recent graduate of the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science, who is deeply honored to have the opportunity to collaborate on building a nonprofit sector of Shaquera’s Story that will not only provide resources but help educate youth and young adults about domestic and gender-based violence. Sarah-Simone believes that this mission aligns with her passion and commitment to serving underrepresented and vulnerable communities, especially in education and social justice. 

Our Team in Action

Our Commitment

Shaquera’s Story is more than an organization—it’s a movement built on lived experience, survivor leadership, and a vision for change. Together with our community of advocates, partners, and supporters, we are working to end intimate partner violence, uplift survivors, and transform systems that have historically failed them.