Shameka Parrish-Wright, BA, BS

Shameka Parrish-Wright is the Director of VOCAL-KY – a newly launched organization dedicated to ending AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness by building the political power of people directly impacted by those issues. A mother of three, Shameka has personally struggled through homelessness and the criminal justice system.
Shameka has a long history of community organizing and social justice work. Until this summer she was the Operations Manager for “The Bail Project” dedicated to disrupting mass incarceration and reforming the unjust bail system. She recently ran for Mayor of Louisville, where she came in second.
Shameka has a degree in Human Resources from the University of Louisville. She is the Co-Chair of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression. She was appointed Human Relations Commissioner by the Mayor of Louisville. Additionally, Shameka has held and still holds, leadership positions with many organizations such as: Kentucky Jobs with Justice, LaCasita Center Board, Continuum of Care Board of the Homeless Coalition, The Anne & Carl Braden Memorial Center, Louisville Books to Prisoners Program, Justice Now, and Sowers of Justice Network.