Shelly Norris, Corey’s Network Inc. — Turning Tragedy into Advocacy
Who she is & why she matters:
Shelly Norris is the co-founder of Corey’s Network Inc. and the mother of Corey, whose 2013 homicide ignited her mission. With 35 years in social work—spanning women’s shelters, adjudicated youth, the Missouri Department of Corrections, school systems, and sexual-abuse investigations—Shelly built a Kansas City–based nonprofit that delivers immediate support, advocacy, and practical services to surviving victims of homicide. Her story is a masterclass in channeling grief into action.
Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode:
The spark: After being told she wouldn’t get an advocate until her son’s case was solved, Shelly vowed no other family would face that moment alone—Corey’s Network launched in June 2014 with 501(c)(3) status.
Built for the fight: Decades of case management, media know-how, and working with law enforcement equipped her to navigate investigations, court processes, and the press—skills she now shares with families in crisis.
Smart advocacy tactics: She teaches survivors to create paper trails (email, not calls), escalate up the chain of command, leverage Crime Stoppers for repeated press releases, and secure free billboards to keep cases visible.
Community power: Colleagues and students rallied to fund the nonprofit at Corey’s posthumous graduation—proof that communities will invest when the mission is clear and urgent.
Real services, real partners: Corey’s Network coordinates counseling, media navigation, funeral assistance, and warm referrals through a consent-based affiliate web (e.g., police departments, mayors’ offices, Healing Pathways, Parents of Murdered Children).
Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDfeo4ZGjjc
Memorable Quote:
“I can’t sit back and say I could have helped you—and I chose not to.”