About Shaq:

Shaquille “Shaq” Cauley is a nonprofit executive, community advocate, Ballroom Legend, mentor, and cultural strategist whose leadership has helped shape and strengthen LGBTQ+ communities across Indiana and the Midwest. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Gary, Indiana, Shaq’s work is rooted in lived experience, community empowerment, and the belief that every person deserves access to opportunity, affirmation, and belonging.

A graduate of Merrillville High School, Shaq has built a reputation for transforming ideas into impactful community initiatives that bridge culture, wellness, education, and advocacy. He currently serves as the Director of Community Enrichment for Indiana Pride of Color (INPOC), where he develops strategic partnerships, expands year-round programming, and creates opportunities that celebrate, support, and uplift Black LGBTQ+ communities throughout the state.

Shaq is the Founder and President of the award-winning Indy Kiki Circle Inc., as well as the Founder and President of the OKI (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana) Kiki Ballroom Alliance, a regional coalition established to strengthen collaboration, leadership, and cultural preservation throughout the ballroom community. Through these organizations, he has united houses, leaders, and organizations across multiple states while creating opportunities for education, mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement.

A respected Ballroom Legend, Shaq is recognized as one of the Midwest’s leading voices in ballroom culture. He has introduced countless young people to ballroom as a pathway to confidence, self-expression, leadership, and chosen family. Through free workshops, educational programming, community events, and one-on-one mentorship, he has empowered young adults to become competitors, leaders, advocates, and mentors in their own right. His commitment to preserving ballroom history while cultivating its future has made a lasting impact on communities throughout the region.

As a long-term HIV survivor and advocate, Shaq brings both professional expertise and lived experience to his work in public health. He has dedicated his career to reducing stigma, increasing access to HIV prevention and care, and connecting communities to life-saving resources through outreach, education, and strategic partnerships.

Shaq’s leadership and impact are also featured in the documentary Beyond Ballroom, which highlights the transformative power of ballroom culture and the community leaders using it to inspire change. Whether building nonprofit organizations, mentoring the next generation, producing large-scale cultural events, or advocating for health equity, Shaq remains committed to creating opportunities, preserving legacy, and ensuring LGBTQ+ communities of color have the resources, visibility, and support they deserve.