Sharon Gelman

Background

About Sharon Gelman

Sharon Gelman is a writer, editor, media producer, and human rights activist. She specializes in mobilizing noted artists, activists, philanthropists, companies, and nonprofits to create innovative projects and arts productions that advance social justice. Gelman was longtime executive director of Artists for a New South Africa and director of human rights programs for the Hollywood Policy Center. She was US managing editor and interviewer for 200 Women Who Will Change the Way You See the World, published by Chronicle Books in 2017. She produced the award-winning Hachette audiobook Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales and has developed and managed projects for nonprofits and companies including the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Blackwell & Ruth, People for the American Way Foundation, the Congressional Human Rights Foundation, Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, American Newspaper Publishers Association, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Hollywood Women's Political Committee, Jensen Communications, McGhan Radio Grammy Week Live, Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, Glorious Digital, and Oxfam America. Recognition of her work includes the finalist for the 2024 Lascaux Nonfiction Prize, a 2023 Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County grant, 2022 Maryland State Independent Artists award, 2022 Stories Matter Foundation Doro Boehme Scholarship, 2021 First Page Prize judged by Joan Dempsey, 2018 Alumni Residency Fellowship from Warren Wilson MFA Program for Writers, 2014 Vermont Studio Center Residency, 2011 Norman Mailer Scholarship, 2010 Audie Awards: Audiobook of the Year and Best Multi-Voice Performance, 2010 Grammy Nomination, 2010 Booklist Notable Children’s Recording, 2009 iTunes Best Fiction Audiobooks, 2009 AudioFile Best Audiobooks, 2009 Library Journal Editors’ Pick, 2009 Emusic.com Best Audiobooks, 2009 Hilton Foundation Award Nominee (by Desmond Tutu), 2009 Selah/Rockwood Fellowship, 2005 People for the American Way Foundation Democracy Award, 2001 & 2002 Reboot Fellowship, 2001 Good Things: Connecting the Arts and Social Justice Award. Gelman brings creativity, a nuanced understanding of issues and attention to detail to her work. Her specialties include writing, editing, anthology and project management, social justice advocacy, and cross-cultural communication.