2019 Knock Out Abuse West Sponsors

2019 EVENT MEDIA SPONSOR

2019 KEY NOTE SPEAKER & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR

RENE DENFELD

Rene Denfeld is an award-winning author, journalist, and licensed private investigator living in Portland, Oregon. She is the bestselling author of The Child Finder and The Enchanted, which was a finalist for the Center for Fiction’s Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel prixe and received the Prix du Premier Roman Étranger in France. She has written for many publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Oregonian.

Rene’s lyrical, beautiful writing is inspired by her work with sex trafficking victims and innocents in prison. Rene was the Chief Investigator at a public defender’s office and has worked hundreds of cases. In addition to her advocacy work, Rene has been a foster adoptive parent for twenty years. She was awarded the Break The Silence Award at Knock Out Abuse in Washington, DC for her social justice work, and was named a 2017 hero of the year by the New York Times.

The child of a difficult history herself, Rene is an accomplished speaker who loves connecting with others. Rene lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is the happy mom of three kids adopted from foster care as well as other foster kids.

RENE'S NEW BOOK AVAILABLE HERE>>>>

2019 SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCE

SHELEA FRAZIER

With hands that effortlessly glide over the keys and a voice that will carry you to the moon, Sheléa’s musical mastery makes her one of the most exhilarating up and coming artists today.

After receiving a musical degree from Oakwood University, Sheléa worked as songwriter/vocalist with legendary producers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This experience led to her writing and producing for Chanté Moore’s album, Love the Woman, including the album’s single “It's Not Supposed to Be This Way. Sheléa also lent her stellar vocals to soundtrack projects including Hotel Rwanda, Akeelah and the Bee and Be Cool.

In 2008, Shelea teamed up with multi Grammy-award winning group, Take 6 to sing, Someone to Watch Over Me for their Grammy nominated album, The Standard. In 2011, Sheléa composed and performed the theme song, Love Fell On Me for the Sony motion picture, Jumping the Broom.

In 2012, Sheléa was invited to perform at the White House at the suggestion of Stevie Wonder to honor composers, Burt Bacharach and Hal David with the Gershwin Prize. Later that year, Sheléa joined Annie Lenox, Herbie Hancock, Joan Osborne, Patti Austin, and the South African Children’s Choir at the Kennedy Center to perform for the UN International AIDS Conference.

Sheléa’s video tribute to Whitney Houston, singing a medley of the star’s hits after her death became an instant Internet sensation. It has received over 1 million views to date. Sheléa also teamed up with Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter, Tena Clark to sing the anthem, Break The Chain, for the global launch, One Billion Rising headed by Eve Ensler. Sheléa also performed for the National Women’s History Museum honoring Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Dolores Huerta.

In 2013, Sheléa gave a standing ovation performance at the Songwriter's Hall of Fame Awards as she honored the late Hal David singing Anyone Who Had a Heart.

In May of 2014, Shelea found herself back at the Library of Congress and performed with Narada Michael Walden for ASCAP's, We Write the Songs event. Sheléa released her debut album, Love Fell On Me, featuring Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Narada Michael Walden. Her single, I'll Never Let You Go peaked at #22 on the Billboard R&B charts and charted for 22+ weeks.

In 2015, Sheléa headlined a tour with Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright and Norman Brown. Soon after, she joined mentor Stevie Wonder for his Songs In the Key Of Life tour.

In February 2016, Sheléa returned to the White House and received a standing ovation for her tribute performance with Anthony Hamilton to Ray Charles. It was aired on PBS, Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles. In the fall of 2016, Sheléa made her acting debut in HBO multi Emmy nominated film, All the Way.

In 2017, Sheléa was handpicked by Quincy Jones to be the first vocalist for his Jazz club, Q’s Bar and Lounge located in Palazzo Versace Dubai. The word quickly spread and Sheléa’s international appeal made it the #1 choice for entertainment. A few months later, Sheléa made her Carnegie Hall debut as she performed a tribute to Jimmy Webb.

Sheléa is currently touring internationally with David Foster and Kirk Whalum while putting the final touches on a tribute album to legendary songwriters, Alan and Marilyn Bergman.