Upendo Shabazz joined Allegany Franciscan Ministries in 2010.  She oversees the organization’s ministry in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. A native Floridian, Upendo has served the Palm Beach County community for many years.  She was vice president of Community Impact with United Way of Palm Beach County, and spent six years with the Department of Safe Schools for the Palm Beach County School District.  She periodically teaches as Adjunct Professor at Barry University School of Social Work.

Upendo has served on United Way of America’s Minority Roundtable Advisory Committee. In 2009, she became a United Way of America Global Resident Fellow.  Upendo was featured in the Success South Florida Magazine “40 Under 40 Most Influential Black Professionals of 2006”, “Who’s Who in Black South Florida” for 2007 and 2008, and named one of South Florida’s “25 Most Influential & Prominent Black Women in Business” for 2011. She was a finalist for the 2019 St. Lucie County Economic Development Council Pete Hegener Leadership award.

Upendo earned both a Bachelor and Master degrees in social work from Florida State University, and is certified in Leadership and Management from University of Miami. She is a current board member for West Palm Beach Arts and Entertainment District, Association for Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), Florida Nonprofit Alliance and the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority. Upendo proudly served as a member of the West Palm Beach Chapter of the Links (2009-2021). She is currently part of Leadership Palm Beach County, and the Blue Ridge Leadership Institute.