​Nika V. | SisterHood 351 
StoryTelling Across Massachusetts
Nantucket's Shantaw Bloise-Murphy
​Author: Available
​Illustrator: Available
Editor: Available​
​
Background on Shantaw Bloise-Murphy

  • Shantaw was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica
  • She lived in a neighborhood that had a lot of poverty and crime
  • She and her mother were homeless at one point
  • Her mom worked hard to send her to great schools in Jamaica 
    • Shantaw wants to make her mom proud of her
    • She’s inspired by her mom’s hard work and sacrifices
    • She’s also inspired by Nantucket’s Florence Higginbotham 
 
  • Shantaw moved to Nantucket with her mom in 2005 and graduated from Nantucket High School 

  • She then went to / graduated from Bridgewater State University in and studied Communication and Culture

  • She returned to Nantucket after college and has worked for several companies and organizations on the island including: 
    • Nantucket’s Chamber of Commerce
    • The Town of Nantucket (she is currently the Director of Culture and Tourism)
 
  • She’s been on the board for several non-profit organizations on the island related to housing, education and counseling assistance
    • Member of the Nantucket School Committee 
    • Board member of Nantucket Equity Advocates
    • Member of the Nantucket Cultural District Committee
    • Trust Member for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
    • On the Parent Advisory Committee for Nantucket Boys and Girls Club
    • On the Leadership Team for the Nantucket Book Foundation 
 
  • She is also the Co-Founder of Supple Sirens Bath & Body with best friend Bianca (who she met at Nantucket High and also went to college with!) 
    • Bianca learned to make soaps with her sister as a child and Shantaw learned to make butters & scrubs with her grandmother in Jamaica. 
    • They both love to create clean, chemical free products ​
    • They created Supple Sirens during their senior year of college and have traveled the world learning about new techniques and finding the best quality ingredients!
 
  • Shantaw is married to a high school classmate Ryan Murphy and together they recently opened a new surf shop (Broad Street Surf Shop) in the center of town