MAMA SHU

Mama Shu wanted to create a safe place for children to study in her Highland Park neighborhood and now that dream is becoming a reality with the opening of the Homework House.

There’s a lot of transformation going on in a local neighborhood that has been rocked by violence.

When it comes to the term “Community Building,” Shamayim Harris, more affectionally known as ‘Mama Shu’ is doing this literally. A native of Highland Park, when Mama Shu saw her neighborhood in ruins, instead of giving up and moving away, she envisioned turning the blight to beauty. After years of hard work and determination, Avalon Village, a community within a community was created.

Avalon Village is ‘an eco-village in the making’ with art, educational workshops, entertainment, and more

A life long Highland Park resident couldn’t ignore the extreme blight on one city block. She bought an abandon house on the block, fixed it up and began creating Avalon Village, turning blight to beauty. There’s now a homework house, STEM...

Shu Harris, also known as “Mama Shu,” helped her neighborhood rebuild and now she needs help from police after her son was murdered.

She’s a mother who tried to rebuild her community and make it safer after her toddler’s death, only to lose her second son to gun violence.

Many of you know Shamayim Harris from Highland Park (aka Mama Shu).