Sharon Hanshaw's blog

So, You Want to Collaborate in My Community?

Sharon Hanshaw — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:49:57 +0000

When I started

Photo: Sharon Hanshaw (left) and a Coastal Women for Change member at CWC's community garden in Biloxi. Courtesy of CWC.

These collaborations are not supporting people like we need. It's about how the funders see grassroots organizations. It's about what skills are valued – community organizing is taken for granted. Organizations that have the expertise to write grants are the ones that secure the funding. These people come into the community to work. I live in the community. It's assumed grassroots organizations will do the outreach to the community without support or funding. A university gets money, and we're supposed to do all the outreach for free. That's not true collaboration.

Instead of giving more money, support, and skills to organizations that already have these resources, funding decisions and collaborations should be about sharing money, support, and skills with grassroots and community-based groups. And it takes more than a two-hour workshop on grant writing to get those technical skills. It takes relationships and partnerships based on trust and mutual respect, that develop over time.

Here are just two examples of Coastal Women for Change's work that is not supported through collaboration or big funders. We do a backpack giveaway every fall. We serve 1000 people in our community, giving away book bags and school supplies. The giveaway is also a way to assess how great the need is. We collect the names of everyone, and ask people, "What do you need to be sustainable?" We survey, call and follow-up. We build off of the giveaway – It is a way to support our community and engage people further in making changes locally.

This year for the giveaway, I reached out to other nonprofits to say, "Can we do this together? Can you help me with the fundraising effort? You can be on this committee, help me write this letter, contribute volunteers, donate some paper for the event, for example." But I just got no response. It's a dead-end. Emails don't get responded to.

Another part of CWC's day-to-day work is just doing what we can to help people in our community survive. For example, I recently wrote a reference letter to recommend a woman for a job – she was having trouble finding employment because she had been incarcerated. She told me, "I got out jail and am trying to get a job, but no one will hire me." She found employment, with the help of my letter. Those kind of those things – helping the people – are often overlooked by funders and nonprofit collaborations.

The people who live in Ward 2 in East Biloxi should know all these nonprofits and the people who work there by name. They know who I am – I live here, I walk the street here. My people are gone, displaced after Katrina, but I am visiting with new people here. I'm trying to help the ex-offenders, homeless people. People match my face with the organization, because I come to the door.

I don't see the grassroots people and the faith-based people who are walking the streets getting the respect needed so the people they're seeing get served. Those people are not at the table, and need to be at the table.

I recently heard Willie Baptist, author of Pedagogy of the Poor, speak about letting poor people be their own advocates. It really spoke to me and the kind of work we strive to do at Coastal Women for Change. We are trying to sustain the people that exist here, that are making under a living wage. How do you be sustainable in a world designed to keep you down? And how are nonprofit programs supposed to help if they replicate the same problems? We're at the meetings, we're the heads of the nonprofits, but where are the people we are talking about? They should be at these meeting.

Also, sit and look at what's been done, at our reports and photos. The proof is in the pictures of our work, the newspaper clippings. We had a childcare program, it ran out of funding.

Finally, reassess yourself. Revisit yourself. Ask yourself: Am I really for the people? Without the pay, would I still do it? What are my feelings towards fellow human beings? Are they my sisters and brothers? Is it genuine? How am I collaborating? Do I reach out to somebody who is doing the same thing, working in the same community?

I'm not going to build houses when I know my colleagues are building housing. I am going to focus on the youth and the seniors in the houses, or on a community garden – find the piece I can do, connect the dots. It takes all of us collectively to make a whole, and preserve our future.

You have to walk the talk, not just talk the talk.

If our nonprofit organizations and funders cannot manage respectful and authentic collaboration, what kind of communities and movements are we building?

The change must begin with action, not talk. Show the community you care through action.

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of

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community organizing

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What this Mississippi Girl has in Common with My Sisters from the Developing World

Sharon Hanshaw — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:09:57 +0000

When the plane set down in Rio de Janeiro, I thought, "Wow, this is like the movies." I had never been to Brazil before. But what I was really excited about was reconnecting with my sisters from developing nations across the globe. I had met several of these incredible women back in 2009 at the to take part in the Rio+20 Partnerships Forum, part of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

We reunited on the panel “Rio+20 and Women’s lives: A Cross-General Dialogue." My friend Constance Okollet, who lives in Uganda, spoke about the drought, brought on by climate change, that is devastating her community. All of these acres of land are growing no food, just nothing. The government's response is to give out rice, but the rations are small. Constance has five daughters and two sons – that's a lot of mouths to stretch that food across. They go hungry until the next day. Constance says if they had some well where they could get water, at least they could water some of their crops. But the wells are all dried up because of the drought and their crops have been destroyed.

Photo: Sharon Hanshaw, Ulamila Kurai Wragg, and Constance Okollet in Rio de Janeiro. Courtesy of Sharon Hanshaw.

Though I've never experienced a drought like that, Constance's story reminded me of home. It made me think about when Katrina hit, and Salvation Army and Red Cross didn't come to the predominantly Black area in Biloxi where I live. Water wasn’t available. People had to walk to try to find bottled water. There was no pro-active plan in place to take care of the people. How can that be? Water should be on the ground, food should be on the ground. (Unfortunately it hasn't changed much since Katrina,
My goal is to have more women of color speaking to Congress about the effects climate change has on poor communities. We need to educate ourselves about climate change. We need a voice and funding for the future of our communities at large. We should be at the decision-making table, deciding how and when money should be given after a disaster, how to adapt to our changing climate. Why shouldn't we be first? Why shouldn't we decide what grassroots organizations that will support our peers should get resources?

Another one of my sisters from the developing world is Ulamila Kurai Wragg, from the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. She is an incredible inspiration. She left her career as a professional journalist to become an activist, because she saw how quickly her land is eroding and wanted to do something about it. It is something to see and hear people that go through that.

Ula is teaching kids on her island how to journalism and do media writing. She is fighting for education for her people, and when she travels she tells people not just to support the Cook Islands, but "be a part of where you live." Ula wants to build a library for the children on her island, and asked if my organization, Coastal Women for Change, can give books. I have plenty of books to donate, but don't have a means of sending them. If you can help with the cost of sending them, . These women get me to think about climate change, about international issues, about fair trade - they give me all these ideas. We get closer to closer over time. They call me "Mississippi Girl." Ula want me to go to the Pacific Islands, I want her to come to Mississippi.

So these women have pushed me to think globally, and helped me act locally, and I try to do the same for them.

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of
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Have we Learned Nothing from Katrina? A Reflection on Hurricane Isaac

Sharon Hanshaw — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:56:37 +0000

People say it’s not that bad. They aren’t homeless and outdoors like they were after Katrina. But if you don’t talk to the individual you don’t know what their pain is. Right now, a lot of people don't have any food. Red Cross and Salvation Army are requesting donations for food. Nobody has the strength to go through the FEMA process.   

My house flooded. The inspector came a few days ago. He said, “You’ve got wind protection, Ms. Hanshaw, but this damage looks like rain. It wasn't the wind that loosened up the roof, it was the rain going sideways.” With insurance, it seems whatever coverage you don’t have, that happens to be what caused the damage. So people might be thinking, "Oh, they still got their houses," but if don't have the money to make repairs it doesn't matter. I too will be living in a molded house, which can cause terrible symptoms and infection.

Photo: Flooding from Hurricane Isaac in Biloxi, Mississippi. By Kaitlin Truong.

I wasn’t in Biloxi during Hurricane Isaac, I went to Hattiesburg. But Isaac was a major scare for all of us. The water was rising with no rain. In Ward 2, where I work at
Why weren't there trucks with sandbags to take into these low-lying areas, to try to help them? We can't do anything about the wind, but we can do things like making sandbags available, and making sure the drains are clean. Those types of things should have been done. Elected officials should definitely have a plan in place and people should know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what it is. Regardless of whether it's a One, Two, or Zero category storm, it still has the tendency to do something that you're not ready for. So that's the takeaway -- take precautionary measures, especially in the low-lying areas.  

We go to meetings after meetings after meetings with officials from the city, county, and state, talking about the low-lying property area. All those meetings we were going to, they said they were prepared. But then Isaac come through here, it's like, y'all are not together! That's disheartening to me.

We’ve been discussing all these things since Katrina. Why are we still talking about the same stuff? Why are we still talking, but there's no change here? I mean, there’s all these empty lots and there was Community Development Block Grant money, money available from the federal government to develop low-income communities. Why can't you build safe houses and put people in them? You got all this land, why not build healthy affordable housing? And build elevated housing, so you're not just building in vain. But nobody’s moving on that. On the other side of the tracks, where the Whites live, where the City Hall is, you have restaurants coming up. It's just so alive, the look is like downtown New Orleans!

But across the tracks - nothing! There's nothing across the tracks. There's no grocery store. There's nothing in the area you can walk to to get groceries, like we used to. You still have to go to D'Iberville for the main Walmart. So transportation is a problem for a lot of people. Why can't we invest in all people's livelihood?

Biloxi is mostly white (64.5%), with Black (19.6%), Latino (8.7%), Vietnamese and other Asian communities (4.4%) (Numbers from the

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of Coastal Women for Change, in Biloxi, Mississippi. A native of Biloxi, Sharon worked as a cosmetologist for 21 years. She got involved in community organizing and activism after Hurricane Katrina, working to make sure that community members are decision makers in the recovery process. Coastal Women for Change (CWC) focuses on women's empowerment and community development through programs for the elderly and children.

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Mississippi

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Troubled Waters: Discussion with Sharon Hanshaw on Organizing Women to Restore the Gulf Coast

Sharon Hanshaw — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:35:55 +0000

Sharon Hanshaw is the Executive Director of . She discussed why her work centers around women, and why coastal restoration is among her organization's top priorities.

Bridge The Gulf / Institute for Southern Studies: What is Coastal Women for Change working on now?

Sharon Hanshaw: The work we do now is advocate for young children in the juvenile detention center in Harrison County. Coastal Women for Change is recruiting men to mentor the young boys. Another very important initiative is our “Healthy Wealthy and Wise” initiative through our community garden. We also help mothers through resources to start their own businesses. One successful way we have helped is with an in-home child care business, which creates jobs for the child care providers, while young parents pursue their careers. And our latest venture is the coastal community restoration project in partnership with Oxfam.

BTG / ISS: What’s it like where you live?

Hanshaw: Now where I live in Biloxi, we sit inland 180 feet from bodies of water, from the beach front and the back bay. It’s known as Ward 2. The community where I was raised is predominantly African Americans, Asian Americans, a few Latinas, and a few white people. And in this community is what we call the “underserved population.” This community is still in recovery, there’s a great need for infrastructure for our people in the low lying areas.

Growing up there my family had a restaurant, the Kitty Kat restaurant. It was six of us children and my father was a Baptist minister, and he really believed that small business is the way to go. Basically you must own something, that creates a sense of ownership in your community. So when I think about Biloxi, I’m thinking about 32 local businesses in our area that were thriving: a cleaners, restaurants, barbers shops, beauty shops, local grocery stores, community stands where you buy snowballs, and snacks after school at Uncle Carl’s place – It was a thriving business area where everyone had their own businesses. Now the community is so different because you don’t see the mom and pops businesses. The dynamic of our community that once was is no more. Presently we see a lot of hopelessness in our peoples’ eyes.

BTG / ISS: What is Coastal Women for Change's main priority for 2012?

Hanshaw: Our main priority is coastal restoration. We’re trying to save the coast. We’re trying to preserve the land. We’re looking around at the water rising, and the beachfront housing and the back bay housing is no more. It's like we’re just stuck on an island. So we’re trying to restore the coast by addressing the full economic and ecological restoration of coastal communities. We do this by staying involved, writing our Congressman and following the bills that are in the House that affect the Gulf Coast region.

BTG / ISS: On coastal restoration, will you explain a little bit more about what’s happening to the coast?

Hanshaw: Since the oil spill it’s even worse because your land is being taken away by erosion. All this poison – all this oil is coming up and it’s eating up the sands, eating up the fishery, eating up the ground. So the land is slowly leaving. The RESTORE Act puts us one step closer to providing the resources necessary to overcome the challenges brought by Deepwater Horizon tragedy. We’re negotiating with our legislators on that now. And environmental justice is needed. Our environmental state is in great need right now, health-wise and job-wise. We have asthmatic children, they’re getting sicker because the lack of air quality and clean water.

So we must advocate to save our coastal area through coastal restoration. We’re trying to build levees, build marshlands, build estuaries -- we never had to do those things before. We’re just finding out we can make a change through this knowledge, through education.

BTG / ISS: Tell me more about the RESTORE Act.

Hanshaw: Yes, this is about local jobs created for local people to restore the coast, and not bringing outsiders in to do work that your local people can do. Economic development without your local people -- what kind of economic development is that?

BTG / ISS: Can you address why you chose to center your work on women?

Hanshaw: After Hurricane Katrina we women were thinking “how can we rebuild?” I noticed that the women were at the forefront of things, but always overshadowed by the men. Women’s voices seem to get lost somehow. So I felt, along with other women, that we should focus on women’s challenges as well. We saw women taking care of children, we saw women trying to find jobs, we saw women taking charge while the men were saying, ‘I have to leave here to try to find work.’ They didn’t think to create something where they are, but of course the women stayed on task.

We made sure we had regular meetings in one of the few places standing, Richmond Funeral Home on Main St. And it was only women that were meeting. I will always remember those days. It is sketched in my mind as a reminder of what we can do if we just move.

Eventually it was time to name the women’s group. So I thought about it and wrote down several names. I brought the names back to the group. The name we voted on was “Coastal women.” The name alone says something. It does not exclude my sisters across the Gulf Coast or in developing countries. This devastation was larger than Biloxi. It was coastal. It affects all coastal women.

Women were the ones being cheated, used, and mishandled. When I go to a meeting place where there are majority men they always assume I’m the secretary. I beg to differ. I’m not the one to take the notes, unless it’s for our collective power. You can get your brother here to take the notes. But we have been told all our lives to stand behind the men. But not today. I work, I’m educated, please respect me as such. I don’t have to have the lower step because I’m the woman.

So we had no choice but to be “Coastal Women for Change”.

BTG / ISS: What can Congress do to support your work?

Hanshaw: My message to Congress: Allow our voices to be heard, and make changes if need be. Trust us to make the right decision. After all truly we’re the experts.

BTG / ISS: What’s your vision for Biloxi 20, 40 years from now?

Hanshaw: I would like to build community through people and small businesses building wealth. I would like us to have educational facilities that really support the community. And I would like the history books to lift up our true history. Not the history that we are not in, We have people from Biloxi who’ve made history, for example, Dr. Gilbert R. Mason. These people made history but it’s not in any of the history books.

BTG / ISS: Who was Dr. Gilbert R. Mason?

Hanshaw: Dr. Mason was the only African American doctor in Biloxi. He was the Biloxi Branch NAACP President. He protested the beaches, because Blacks could not go to the beach. This man stood and put himself in harms way for change, even though people responded with violence. Thank God for his vision to step out on faith even if it meant jail time.

Interview conducted by Ada McMahon. The transcript has been edited for clarity and length.

This content was produced by , in collaboration with the
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Gulf Coast women voice coastal restoration concerns in D.C.

Sharon Hanshaw — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:27:48 +0000

During a recent trip to Washington, D.C, members of , I support the RESTORE Act. It would direct 80% of BP’s Clean Water Act fines from the oil disaster towards much needed coastal restoration along the Gulf Coast. One of our main priorities is that coastal restoration projects employ the locals, rather that bringing in out of state people.

In the wake of the BP Oil Disaster CWC has committed to keeping the public informed of coastal restoration decisions that affect our communities. CWC wants to make sure money and the jobs as a result of the BP oil spill are given to the average working family. We speak for the vulnerable people who are desperately looking for economic development.

A group of women, including Allytra Perryman from Coastal Women for Change, Michele Roberts from

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of Coastal Women for Change, in Biloxi, Mississippi. A native of Biloxi, Sharon worked as a cosmetologist for 21 years. She got involved in community organizing and activism after Hurricane Katrina, working to make sure that community members are decision makers in the recovery process. Coastal Women for Change (CWC) focuses on women's empowerment and community development through programs for the elderly and children.

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The RESTORE Act and what it means to the Gulf Coast region

Sharon Hanshaw — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:32:42 +0000

The RESTORE Act passed in the Senate on Thursday. I will never forget the vote: 76-22. We collectively were a part of this victory, with one voice.

The RESTORE Act creates an essential framework to manage and finance Gulf Coast recovery, using 80% of Clean Water Act penalties BP will have to pay for 2010 oil disaster. The RESTORE Act establishes a trust account with these fines, to restore both the economy and environment of the Gulf Coast.

The RESTORE Act will bring hope back to the Gulf Coast region for our communities at large. Major funds are needed to support reconstruction of Gulf Coast in the high hazard area devastated by our recent BP oil disaster of 2010

This disaster caused oil to wash ashore and destroy vital coastal wetlands. These wetlands act as natural storm barriers, reducing storm surge and minimizing inland flooding. Without restoration of these gulf wetlands, numerous coastal communities will remain vulnerable to future storms and flooding.

The RESTORE Act should promote economic recovery, by putting people to work on efforts to revive our wetlands, rebuild our oyster reefs, and restore barrier islands.

Investing billions in ecosystems restoration would be great way to help the Gulf Coast’s environment and to get people back to work. Our people are worth investing in and what better way to do this than to create jobs. We must reinvest in our communities. And to do that we must support the RESTORE Act.

That is why we must constantly find ways to let Congress know how important it is to keep pushing for the RESTORE Act. Now it's time to thank the Senate and keep moving forward. And let our Congress know that local folks should receive the jobs because it is the right thing to do. We must continue to encourage our people to do letter writing campaigns and show our determination to work with our Congressmen and Senators to finds ways to create economic development for our Gulf Coast region.

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of Coastal Women for Change, in Biloxi, Mississippi. A native of Biloxi, Sharon worked as a cosmetologist for 21 years. She got involved in community organizing and activism after Hurricane Katrina, working to make sure that community members are decision makers in the recovery process. Coastal Women for Change (CWC) focuses on women's empowerment and community development through programs for the elderly and children.

Photo credit: Bridge The Gulf Project.

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"Exhale and welcome the change" - My interview with HealaSister.com

Sharon Hanshaw — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:25:55 +0000

I recently shared a bit of my life story with the website

What would you do if you found yourself homeless and jobless in a matter of a few hours? Some women might retreat and give up. But that is not what Sharon Hanshaw did. Seven years ago when her business and home were destroyed by hurricane Katrina, she decided to fight back and not only survive but thrive in the process.

Prior to the storm, she owned a beauty salon and was quite content being a hair care professional and business woman. For almost 21 Years she owned and operated the salon and empowered women by making their hair beautiful. After the storm, Ms. Hanshaw became the leader of an organization that would not only give her the courage and voice to speak up advocating change, but also empower others in her community to do the same. In 2006 Coastal Women for Change, CWC , was born from a grant and Sharon Hanshaw became its leader. Going from salon owner to executive director of a non-profit organization in my book makes her a Sister who Rocks. I had to talk with this sister and find out how it all happened.

Me: “Thank you Ms. Hanshaw for sharing your story with HealASister. I believe it will encourage many women.”

Ms. Hanshaw: “Thank you too. The article would not be real if I didn’t mention my parents The Rev. Louis and Mamie Peyton. My parents owned and ran The Kitty Kat Restaurant on Main Street in Biloxi, Mississippi. Through their hard work they showed us kids we can own our own businesses. My father would say, ‘pray and believe, and always believe you can do instead of can’t do.’ They are truly missed and will never be forgotten.”

1. After experiencing such a loss, how did you begin to put your life back together?

After exhaling and literally visualizing my family and friends homeless, I felt the need to talk to God and wait on him to lead me. It took me about 9 months to become fully engaged in helping rebuild our community in East Biloxi which is known as Ward 2 in Biloxi, MS.

2. Where did the idea of CWC come from?

While enjoying my granddaughter’s basketball game, after leaving the women’s group meeting. I thought that is not a name for future women on the move. So I jotted some names down for the women to vote on at our next meeting. From that meeting the women voted Coastal Women for Change would be the name for the women on the move. The idea was to bring women from all over the coastal area together and to have their voices heard.

3. What is the greatest accomplishment of CWC yet?
When we women came from all ethnicities to our Mayor Holloway and demanded to be a part of the decision-making process. We had Vietnamese women, Latino women as well as white women to come together. We also invited the mayor to our meeting. From that meeting on, women were sitting on all the following committees: FEMA elevation, Affordable housing, Senior programs and Economic development and CDBG funds, Community Development Block Grant committee.

Me: In other words, The women were having their say about what changes would take place in their community and how those changes would be implemented.

4. Most salon owners and hair care professionals are great listeners and advisors to their clients. How has that role if at all helped you in your new role as director of CWC?

My belief is the script for each of us is already written, if we listen we will become that strong person. Being a cosmetologist was preparing me for my future leadership role in the world. I must say, I didn’t see it coming. But surely welcome the ride and feel so blessed because of it.

5. What is it about women that makes us great leaders and motivators?

The fact is women are strong and are natural caregivers. Through those traits that were inherited by their grandmothers, women seem to build character and perseverance. When times get tough women elevate and step up in ways that makes us survivors. CWC has become an example for communities all across the globe. Women from the south can make things happens as well. Research the women of the gulf and become enlighten.

6. What future impact would you and this organization like to make in order to change lives and communities.

By making sure that the community becomes sustainable and advocate for themselves through education. It is a slow process but worth it. You start by building trust and being there when needed.

7. What advice can you give other women who find themselves in unexpected transitions in life?

Exhale and welcome the change. You never know who you will bring hope, through valuable words or just by being an active listener. Through it all my major expectation is that women start respecting each other. It’s truly important for our young girls’ growth.

The organization is committed to raising awareness and addressing issues that affect its community. Some of the community programs at CWC include: 

• Youth mentorship
• Leadership/Skills Programs
• Senior Computer Programs 
• Community Garden Programs 
• Coastal Restoration

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of
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Small businesses struggle on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Sharon Hanshaw — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:47:32 +0000

We here on the Gulf Coast have fishermen and oystermen that are not licensed and bonded. They are subsistence fishermen who catch food for themselves and their families, and to sell informally to the community. That means, in short, they're not qualified to apply for BP funds through the claims process. By not reporting their income, they cannot apply for compensation and other resources.

Right now, the fish are too small and sick. There are no shrimp out there now. So these small business people are struggling. They cannot catch food for themselves, and they are not getting compensation from BP.

I used to purchase oysters from one oysterman every two weeks. He is the average Joe who does not want to give his name (since Katrina, people sort of feel exploited, and don’t want their name to be out there).   He told me, “I used to always have great oysters [before] the BP oil spill. I have not had any luck within the past year. The oyster are smaller and they don't taste good.” Now he cuts yards and does handy work for folks.

I see people suffering and trying to survive by what they know.

On the Gulf Coast the small businesses are always left out. It seems unjust, if you work hard to make a fair and decent living, to take care of your family and the locals, by going out fishing.   What can we do to ensure that these folks are allowed to receive compensation or funds for their loss because of the BP oil disaster?   We could put in place non-traditional jobs, since we don’t know when the fisheries will recover. If we don't, we're creating more homeless folks and more vulnerable people not being able to make a living. My concern is to create jobs for the unemployable.  

It goes deeper than the BP disaster. After Katrina, there is no economic growth in our community. I do realize this is a dilemma all over the world, especially in communities of color.

The people of color are affected the most because of the economy and recession, and most of all the lack of opportunity in the community in which we live.

For example we have two women who just opened their businesses. One is a consignment shop, the other is a miniature flea market. Where the businesses are located, there is not enough traffic or anything next to it to attract costumers. The folks we reached out to to support the business can't keep the place open.

The solution is to build these communities up with storefront businesses and stores. That would attract buyers and build the wealth back.

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of
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Social and Economic Justice

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communities of color

small businesses

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Sisters help sisters, at Biloxi summit

Sharon Hanshaw — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:35:45 +0000

Earlier this month the “Sisters Helping Sisters Live Healthy, Wealthy and Wise” tour came to Biloxi, Mississippi, and Coastal Women for Change was a proud co-host.

The purpose of the event was to demonstrate how important it is for women and girls to put health first, along with other important issues; For example, being wise about making decision that are good for us not just temporarily, but for our longevity. Coastal Women for Change addresses women's issues on a daily basis, so it was and is a perfect fit.

Over 100 women and young ladies attended the summit, on Saturday October 8, 2011 at the Gulf Coast Kroc Center. The tour is put on by the
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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of
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Garden for Life

Sharon Hanshaw — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:26:05 +0000

When
See more photos of the garden on

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Sharon Hanshaw is Executive Director of
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