Sherkila Shaw

Sherkila Shaw was born and raised in Miami, Florida.

A graduate of Miami Carol City Senior High School, she became a young teenage mother who found herself homeless. Despite her circumstances, she didn’t let it stop her from becoming the best hard-working mother she could be.

Sherkila has worked at one the best Children’s Hospitals for 15 years and as a caregiver to disabled adults and currently works as a Community Consultant for the University of Miami Five Point Initiative where they partner with local businesses to engage in community conversations with the people about HIV, Prep and condom usage.

Although Sherkila has been living with HIV for 20 years, she volunteers with the youth at her church and sits on the board for PPN, Jessie Trice Community Health Center, and Family Health Source Center. She’s also a member and panelist for the University of Miami Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM), a model for ViiV HealthCare Risks to Reasons campaign, and a brand ambassador for Sister’s organizing To Survive campaign.

She was also appointed to be on the planning committee for the University of South Florida. Sherkila enjoys speaking at high schools, homeless shelters, and drug rehabilitation centers.

“I don’t dress up my speeches. I give the raw unfiltered truth about what the repercussions can be when you have unprotected sex. I want to be the voice for the voiceless and I want to make a difference to help others.”