Shiann Copeland

What makes Shiann Wildly Capable?

“Shiann uses her superpowers of empathy, drive and passion to bring hope and healing to ReMerge mothers and leads the ReMerge program team with excellence. She’s a pillar of strength and love for her family and is the type of friend we should all be so lucky to have.”

JENNA MOREY

What makes you feel proud?

I am proud of the example I set for my daughters each day. I am also proud of the legacy I will someday leave through my work at ReMerge and the impact I have made on every life I touched through my career in serving those involved in the Oklahoma prisons and criminal legal system.

What keeps you up at night?

Lots! My brain is constantly considering and planning for improvement on how we do things, how to fill gaps in services for our community and how to reach more people.

One year from today, how do you hope you’re different?

If I’m being honest and vulnerable, I hope to be less controlling in a year! It is a “blind spot” that has come to my attention through navigating a divorce in the last year. I have begun the personal work and in a year I hope to have made significant progress.

What’s been the biggest obstacle in your life so far?

Outside of my own personal traumas as a child I have worked to overcome in the last 25 years, the disease of addiction has been the greatest obstacle in my life. I personally do not suffer from addiction but several members of my family and almost 100% of the clients I have served over the last 12 years have all suffered. It is a concern I will always have for my daughters as they have been and will be impacted by family experiencing addiction and will be at greater risk themselves. As long as it is a barrier to those in our community and my family, it will be a barrier to me.

What’s the single biggest problem you’d like to solve in your community?

The shortage of affordable housing and meaningful work opportunities for the most vulnerable in our community. It never fails that as much work as I’ve seen my clients do and as much progress they’ve made, these two areas always serve as barriers to them. Our community cannot grow and flourish to its full potential until these two topics are addressed and serious progress is made.