Shamere Duncan is a sophomore at Wayne State University Studying Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s studies and she is the Founder & Executive Director of the Black Initiative 313. Shamere’s unwavering commitment to serving Detroit communities is admirable. Specifically she has lead several neighborhood cleanups to remove unnecessary blight and ensure the safety of community members; lead a penny drive to support people who were impacted by Hurricane Irma; and started an organization on Wayne States Campus — Black Initiative 313 — to provide basic goods and services such as food, toiletries, funding, mentoring and workshops which are necessities for college students and community members.

Shamere’s call to philanthropy was marked by tragedy. In February 2021, her cousin was in a triple shooting — he was harmed severely, but he was the only one to survive. This horrific incident caused her to deepen and expand the impact of her nonprofit’s work. Shamere has developed service projects, social media campaigns, high impact volunteerism, and youth-led group activities to raise awareness and support in solving issues affecting the Detroit area. She has also organized breast cancer and diabetes awareness campaigns and donation drives in partnership with Crossroads of Michigan — a soup kitchen that fed over 100 less fortunate people — and Girl Talks — an organization serving young women in Detroit.

Shamere’s commitment to service goes beyond her non-profit. She has been appointed to the second cohort of the Skillman Foundation’s President’s Youth Council; selected to serve as a 2023 Mayoral Fellow; and awarded the Youth Citizen Service Award as an Ambassador for Racial Justice and Equity from the Detroit Rotary Club.

Shamere recently finished writing her first ever guided journal titled Passion to Purpose where she gives young adults the power to transform their passion and potential to PURPOSE.