When singing artist and spoken word performer Shanelle Gabriel was diagnosed with lupus in 2004, she quickly decided that her health problems would not limit her success. For the past five years, the Utica College graduate has been touring North America and “planting seeds.”
Through her upbeat pop and inspirational soul sound, Gabriel said, “every time I perform, I aim to plant a seed in someone, a new perspective. This is more than just standing on stage simply reading my work or singing a tune. This is me sharing me.”
Gabriel brings her talents to Stacks Stage in Penn State Harrisburg’s Olmsted Building at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The performance is free and open to the public. For information, phone 717-948-6273.
Determined to continue her vocal career, she is equally committed to overcoming lupus and promoting awareness of the disease. “My battle with lupus has been tedious, but God has a plan. That plan does include giving up on life. I want to be a testimony to others that no matter what, faith and determination can accomplish any goal,” she said.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Gabriel has displayed her skills at colleges and venues across the country. She performed in the promo opening and was featured on 2007’s sixth season of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and recorded a nationally televised promo for the 2007 NFL draft. She was a member of the 2006 Nuyorican Poets Café national slam team and a competitor in the 2007 Individual World Poetry Slam Competition in Vancouver, Canada.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect virtually any organ of the body, according to the Lupus Foundation. In lupus, the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive, forming antibodies that attach normal tissues and organs. The illness is characterized by periods of illness and periods of remission. Because its symptoms come and go and mimic those of other diseases, lupus is difficult to diagnose. There is no single laboratory test that can definitively prove that a person has the disease.