She/Her I 13 years in care
Shimaine Holley (she/her) is a dedicated youth advocate, social worker, and Lived Experience Expert based in North Carolina. After aging out of foster care at 21, she transformed her journey into purpose—traveling nationwide to share her story and advocate for system change.
She holds two Sociology degrees and is pursuing her master’s degree, expected in 2025. Shimaine is the founder of Change Is Inevitable LLC, where she leads workshops on trauma-informed care, youth development, and juvenile justice reform.
She has collaborated with national organizations like the Annie E. Casey Foundation, OJJDP, and Foster Youth in Action, and was a cast member and screenwriter for Juvenile Five Stories.
Shimaine brings authenticity and warmth to everything she does and is proud to be a 2025 Foster Care Month Influencer. She’s committed to uplifting youth voices and believes that real change starts with real stories—especially when told by those who’ve lived them.
