Shael Norris is the Founding Executive Director of SafeBAE, a national, survivor-founded, youth-led organization focused on preventing sexual violence among teens. Part of the organization’s name – “Before Anyone Else (BAE)” – is inspired by the idea that an important step in healing is preventing what happened to you from happening to someone else. Building on a background of harnessing theater for social change, Shael has dedicated her career to forging the next generation of leaders.

“I want to highlight how much we, as adults, can learn from young people if we let them mentor us. This is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible things that happen when different generations work together toward a shared vision.”

What will the Stanley Creators Fund make possible for SafeBAE?

This grant will make it possible for SafeBAE to continue offering our programs entirely free of charge to students, which is central to our mission. More specifically, this funding ensures that all youth participants in our Summer Activist Institute can attend without cost being a barrier, covering everything from transportation scholarships to program materials. It will uplift this critical work and enable us to continue empowering young people to be advocates for themselves and their communities.

Stanley Creators Fund celebrates the Creators, Builders, and Inventors among us. What does it mean to you to be a Creator, Builder, and Inventor?

To me, being a Creator, Builder, and Inventor is about legacy — about how we see the world, process it, and ultimately contribute to it in ways that endure. It’s about cultivating an environment where others, especially young people, feel supported to take risks and make mistakes, and where they can leave their indelible mark on the world.

What drives you? Or, said differently, what’s your “why?”

My “why” is deeply personal and multifaceted. Starting a nonprofit with a group of young people brings a weight there is no way to prepare for — their trust, their hope, their belief in this work. That responsibility is my greatest motivation. It’s for every kid I’ve ever met and, heartbreakingly, for those who aren’t here anymore. One of those young people, my co-founder Daisy Coleman, entrusted me with this partnership, and though she didn’t live to see what it has become, I carry her trust with me.

What about Stanley 1913 makes you excited for this grant and partnership?

Everything we do at SafeBAE is designed to build trust and resonate with young people in a way that feels relevant, exciting, and empowering. Being connected to a brand like Stanley 1913 that embodies those same values is not only a huge opportunity, but also a reflection of the trust we strive to earn every day.

“The opportunity to partner with a trusted and iconic brand like Stanley 1913 is an incredible honor. Stanley 1913 has a unique connection with young people which aligns perfectly with our mission.”