Shirley Edgerton (she/her), Director of Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program.

Ms. Edgerton is an Educator, Arts Enthusiast and Community Activist committed to empowering girls and women.  WAM Theatre Connection: Recipient of WAM philanthropy. Shirley is an Educator, Community Activist, Arts Enthusiast.  She graduated from Herbert Lehman College (CUNY 1978) with a B.A., attended Atlanta University School of Social Work and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts where she completed an M.Ed.(2007).) Ms. Edgerton was employed by the Department of Development Services for twenty-one years. She served as the Berkshire County Director of the State Operated Homes for adults with Mental Retardation for fifteen of those years.  In March 2010, Ms. Edgerton launched the Rites of Passage and Empowerment program.

R.O.P.E offers mentorship to middle and high school students that identify of color and female or binary. The 1:1 mentoring program targeted offer Arts projects, college tours and global service-learning trips. Ms. Edgerton is also the Director of the community arts based program Alive Step, Dance and Drumline.

Ms. Edgerton has received numerous recognitions as well as two honorary Doctorates degrees from College of Our Lady of the Elms and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts for her outstanding service to children and community. In February 2024 she was recognized at the State House by Governor Healy and the Black Empowerment Council for her service to youth and community. On December 7, 2024 she received the MassArt Common Good Awards, which honored “exceptional work at the intersection of arts and civic life.”  Currently Ms. Edgerton serves on the 18 Degrees board, Berkshire County NAACP Executive Committee and Pine Cobble School board.

Quote: I’m grateful to sit at WAM’s table of equity, as we move forward the agenda to create a more equitable and just society for the girls following in our footsteps.