Shaltreece Chandler
Development Volunteer and
Brand Ambassador for WIF’s Youth Veterinarian Initiative
We first learned about Shaltreece Chandler because of her children’s book, Kelsie 100, which teaches kids financial literacy through a girl who saves money to build a zoo. We quickly realized that her numerous skills and interests completely align with ours, and we welcomed her aboard as a volunteer in December 2023.
Shaltreece “Shal” Chandler is a project management consultant who has describes herself as “a
When we first met, Chandler told us about her desire to support us and shared that she believed she could use her business experience and acumen to help raise money to strengthen our infrastructure as well as fund our projects and programs. She officially signed up as a volunteer in December 2023.
In addition to being a consummate business professional, Chandler is incredibly creative. When we learned about her children’s book—Kelsie 100—and her love of reading aloud to children, we saw the alignment with our Literacy Strategic Focus Area (SFA).
Because we had combined our STEAM Education and Literacy SFAs in our Youth Veterinarian Initiative, the fact that Chandler’s main character was a little Black girl who wanted to save money to build a zoo was an unexpected bonus.
Shal Chandler wearing Kelsie 100 t-shirt
Chandler became passionate about the initiative and began to look for ways that she could bring our work in STEAM Education to Michigan, where she currently resides.
We made her our YVI brand ambassador in January 2024, and she wasted no time in her new role!
In February 2024, she introduced WIF and Dr. Tori Ellis of our partner organization, Mindfulness & STEAM Lab, to the Michigan State University Extension in East Lansing. This led to invitations to participate in the MSU 4-H Animal and Veterinary Science Camp in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
The 2024 camp was the first to include mindfulness as part of the curriculum and the first to utilize the services of an organization external to MSU.
Dr. Tori Ellis and Shal Chandler at
MSU 4-H Animal & Veterinary Science Camp
In keeping with WIF’s mission to expose girls to STEAM careers, Chandler connected us with Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan (GSSEM). Through her outreach, we received $1500 from the Girl Scout Troop 78014 (raised through cookie sales) at the University Liggett School to support the purchase of a hydroponic garden.
We sent the money back to the school, and they purchased the towers directly.
This supported the raising of edible produce for the school while providing hands-on STEM learning experiences and instilling a sense of environmental stewardship in the minds of students.
Shal Chandler and hydroponic towers
As a further introduction of WIF to the Greater Detroit Metropolitan Area, Chandler organized a unique event at the newly completed MaryAnn Wright Animal Adoption and Education Center in Dearborn, MI.
On Thursday, May 29, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit partnered with the Wells International Foundation (WIF) to host “Sound & Sanctuary: A Concert for Canines and Cats” from 3-4 p.m.
Ackeem Salmon was the featured artist. He played the harp for the dogs and cats while the general public walked through the facility in search of animals to adopt.
Left to right: Nova Zorok of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, Ackeem Salmon, and Shal Chandler
In July 2025, Chandler had the opportunity to read Kelsie 100 aloud to two groups of children that WIF serves through our STEAM Education/Literacy initiative in our home town of Houston, TX. We are excited that her passion for our work continues to grow.
As we enter our second decade of service, we look forward to having Chandler work with us to raise funds to sustain our ability to expand our impact in Michigan, the rest of the U.S., and the world.
