Sheri Shuster

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Sheri Shuster is an Iranian-American documentary filmmaker and nonprofit leader dedicated to advancing intersectional storytelling about racism, ableism, sexism and power. An L.A. native, her passion for civil and human rights propelled her into the fields of philanthropy, public policy, and narrative change. During her career spanning 20+ years, Sheri has worked with nonprofits focused on advancing civil rights, disability justice, and intersectional feminism, including organizations such as Disability Rights Washington and the Center for Women and Democracy. From 2008-2012, Sheri served as Associate Director of Covenant House California (CHC), advocating for and forging relationships with unhoused, systems involved and sex trafficked youth. The extraordinary young people at CHC in Oakland motivated her to pivot into directing her first feature documentary, Still I Rise. The film explores how systemic oppression contributes to the disproportionate impact sex trafficking has on Black girls, womxn, and communities, and questions the conventional law and order approach to addressing the problem. Still I Rise has been featured at The African American Policy Forum, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Re-present Media, Berkeley Film Foundation, Glide's Center for Social Justice, and nonprofits and universities across the country. Sheri is an alumnus of U.C.L.A. and the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington.