Shonni Holmes lives in Exeter, NH with her husband Jacob, 5-year-old son, and 2½-year-old daughter – but she is originally from Los Angeles, CA. As an undergraduate Shonni attended CSU Dominguez Hills (part of the largest public university system in the country) and received her MFA from UCLA (the top public university in the nation – 8 years running). At every turn, Shonni chose public education – from volunteering with her aunts who worked a combined 60 years in LA public schools, to her eventual appointment as Lecturer of Theatre at her undergrad alma mater. There, Shonni spearheaded programming that helped transform the Theatre department and provided students – many first generation – with the same level of high-quality education that she received.

The relocation to Exeter in 2020 gave Shonni the time to examine how she would continue her meaningful work in this new community. And it certainly took some time, as she focused on raising two babies; but those babies became her inspiration. In July 2024, the mother-of-two started a small community-centered organization called BIPOC Kids on the Block, which facilitates free and low-cost meetups for youth of color and their families. These meetups allow people of all backgrounds to gather and celebrate the beauty of diversity and uniqueness, fostering a sense of belongingness. Visit www.bipockidsotb.org for more information.