Coastal Women for Change

I came in contact with CWC a year ago. I needed some help with affordable housing. The organization reached out shared resources and we were able to get housing within 3 weeks. I'm thankdul and greatful they took th etime to help my family.

thanks again,
Nadalie

I first became aware of CWC during their 3rd Annual Backpack Giveaway. I volunteered through my employeer to help at the event. I was amazed at what this organization was doing for its youth and community. I wanted to be a part of their mission. I have continued to work with this organization because they are making a difference in this community, believe in their community and seek the success of the youth as well as nurturing the senior citizen community as well.

CWC is a main vein of life in the city of Biloxi and along the Gulf Coast. Working with CWC has allowed me to meet great people from all walks of life, to honoring and serving the Senior Citizens every year at the senior dinner has always and will be one of my most favorite events. Giving for the book bags give away and the community garden brings smiles to Community faces and joy to their hearts Sharon Hanshaw keep up the great work.

Sharon Hanshaw,
It is so much we can say about this wonderful beautiful (young) lady. However, it is not enough space to complete all of what she is to the folks up here in George county. But we will say, may God continue to bless everything Sharon (babygirl) touch and may he bless the circle that he has around her. We will always love this lady. Keep up the good work and keep on smiling and pressing on.
Sending unconditional love to you from the community of Benndale (Lucedale)Mississippi
Immaculate Heart Community Development Corp., Inc.

Sharon Hanshaw is the great and talented leader behind the Coastal Women for Change. Her professionalism and great organizational skills can be seen throughout this organization. She continues to raise the bar higher each year which is so awesome. If you are looking for a non-profit organization that is community involved then this is the organization that you are looking forward to join.

Sharon Hanshaw is the dynamic leader behind Coastal Women for Change. Her strength is the ability to pull together men and women who actively volunteer. This organization meets the needs of their community. They educate and serve the people of all ages. It began as a disaster relief organization after Hurricane Katrina and developed further as the needs in the community changed. I appreciate their willingness to work with other organizations to expand their ability to provide services.

When I read the article in the newspaper on the Henry Beck community garden needing volunters, it was just what I was looking for. I went to the garden, I loved hanging the children's art work up around the building, all of the kid's painting on the white picket feces. I love the fact that the garden is open to the community to enjoy without fees. Ms. Sharon is involved in many other things within the community, it is empowering not only as a woman but as a resident of Biloxi. We all get busy with our days, our jobs, our families.. I know I have but the time I spent with CWC will be a great memory and I hope to reconnect with Ms. Sharon again soon.

Coastal Women for Change is an excellent opportunity for members of all coastal communities to give of their time, resources, prayers and overall participation, there is room for everyone. Sharon's expertise, compassion, and persistence makes this organization stand out above all the rest of non-profit entities. The CWC provides education to our Senior Citizens, computer training, encourages healthy living by involving them in the community garden, also it provides various youth groups the opportunity to engage in the Urban community garden, which can provide them a means of survival by understanding the reproduction in plant life. This is an authentic community service project that also provides necessary items needed for students to participation in learning without feeling "left out" because of not having the school supplies and other essentials needed for their success. Thank You Sharon and all who make up the CWC, and because of you and your efforts "Change is Happening".

Coastal Women for Change is a great community organization . They touch every facet of community work-children, youth seniors. They had dealt with transitioning from Hurricane Katrina work to the current trends of the coast. whether it's organizing backpacks giveaways, senior computer classes, senior dinners, toys for tots. They are always on the go. I highly recommend this organization for future funding and volunteer opportunities.

I have been studying the recovery from Katrina along the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 2007. Sharon Hanshaw and CWC have continued to do important work to aid the women and children of the coast and to empower through action and education. She is an amazing woman and the work being done here is critically important.

I volunteer with many organizations along the Gulf Coast and CWC is one of the best! They take very limited resources and make a huge difference for the folks they serve. Their community garden is incredible and they've helped countless children and families with their backpack give-a-ways.

I've known and worked with Sharon for almost three years now. I have been a part of the community garden, packing and distributing backpacks with school supplies, books for children at Christmas, and moving supplies. This is an organization that really does something for the community and just doesn't talk about it.

The very first time I met a member of CWC, and heard about all the wonderful things that CWC was doing for the community, I immediately joined this organization. My first event was the school supply give away. The backpack were so full of the needed things. I also worked Toys for Tots, an amazing event helping the families bring a smile to their kids faces. CWC is an amazing organization to become a member of. Mrs Hanshaw is an awesome leader. I'm so proud to be a member of CWC.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a week with CWC's Executive Director in 2011 at Stone House Retreat Center in NC. It was wonderful to hear her share her experiences with founding CWC but also sustaining the orgamnization and its programs. Her efforts to raise herself up after Hurricane Katrina and then to support other women in need are amazing! I understand the plight of sustaining a small nonprofit organization. It's a constant challenge. Hats off to Sharon Crenshaw and all the people who support her.

I have had the pleasure of working with CWC for more than five years, and as a nonprofit and advocact expert, I have never witnessed a small group have such a profoud impact in the community and the Gulf Coast region. CWC and its fearless leader, Sharon Hanshaw, are a testament to how passion coupled with tenacity can drive positive change. I am constantly amazed and inspired by their accomplishments and vision, and will forever remain a loyal supporter.

CWC has provided me with the opportunity, as a volunteer, to share in the Youth Detention program which I feel has benefited many Youths. My mentoring through CWC has allowed many youths to develop employment skills, educational goals and improvement in overall conduct. It has been a privilege to service youths and seniors in the community as a volunteer with CWC.

Mississippi gets least money per person from foundations than any U.S. state. Coastal Women for Change helps low income residents of the Gulf Coast, which despite its many casinos has much unemployment and poverty. Operating on a shoe string budget, CWC has an annual school supply giveaway in the summer, help distribute toys and books to poor families during xmas and an annual senior appreciation dinner. CWC also works with at-risk youth at the local juvenile jail.

I am inspired by Coastal Women for Change ("CWC"). This organization of dynamic women develops the leadership of women to be community leaders in Biloxi, Mississippi and work to overcome social inequities. CWC works for climate justice, gender and racial equality, governmental accountability, quality public education, and health care with the wisdom of knowing that these are not "issues," but are rights that have been denied. For this reason, CWC's work and accomplishments focus on defending and advancing these rights to ensure that women and women-led families live with dignity.

I work with CWC to provide programs for elderly residents, some of them being home bound for lack of transportation. Many local volunteers assist with every event. Because I, too, work in the local area, I recognize that the Director, Sharon Hanshaw is gifted with ability to organize folks to help on another, advocate for justice, and provide creative solutions for the problems of young and old. I make every effort to provide both technical and ,ate rials support.

The Biloxi Branch NAACP office was the original location for Coastal Women for Change (CWC). I as President of the Branch served on the original board for CWC. CWC began after Hurricane Katrina as an organization designed to keep the Women in East Biloxi informed about the rebuilding process in Biloxi. Ms. Sharon Hanshaw was elected as Executive Director for the organization. She lost her house and business in Katrina. Ms. Hanshaw and CWC have done a tremendous job in the community. They have started several programs such as Computer Training for Senior Citizens, Thanksgiving Dinner for Seniors, a Community Garden. They are also very supportive to other organizations such as STEPS, Biloxi NAACP, Miss. Center for Justice, Save Our Schools Coalition, Second Liners Mardi Gras Club and many of the local Organizations. They have personally supported the Biloxi Branch NAACP through memberships, working with our youth branch, developing programs, supporting our Freedom Fund Dinner and Awards Program and Chairing our Mother of the Year Program which is one of our major fundraisers. This organization is still needed in our community and definitely keeps the Women in our community involved and informed about the issues affecting East Biloxi.

The Twenty-First Century Foundation was one of the first donors to invest in the emerging work of Coastal Women for Change. As the lead program officer for the Foundation, I was impressed by the intelligence, strength and resolve of the indigenous leadership. This was particularly important after hurricane's Katrina and Rita hit the region because the government and corporate decision-makers were starting to determine the future rebuilding and redevelopment of the area with little local community input and feedback. Coastal Women for Change inserted themselves at key decision-making tables while also meeting the basic needs of residents putting their lives back together. I was also impressed by their willingness to collaborate and support the work of other organizations. I am proud to be associated with the organization's beginnings.

I had the honor of spending a few days with the incredible leaders of Coastal Women for Change in March of 2007. Learning from their approach and dedication made a lasting impact on me, professionally and personally. They included us in many aspects of their work during those few days and were incredibly generous. I have stayed in touch with CWC and am continually amazed with the breadth of issues they tackle and their deep commitment to community.

CWC gave me an opportunity to meet new people, learn about my community and get involved with things that I never thought I would do like gardening, participating with Toys for Tots and serving the Senior Citizens during the Senior dinner.

I was introduce to Coastal Women for Change by my co-worker Jacqueline. It started with an invitation to their by monthly meetings. The first experience was overwhelming awesome the welcome was like I have been a member of the group for ages.
The ladies was so friendly and open hearted. Their vision and mission was clearly evident in everything they say and do.
The lives Coastal Women for Change has impact is numerous and is prevalent in every outreach the group has promoted, whether it has been through community service gardening, visiting the elderly and
children homes, sponsoring back to schools supplies for children etc.
Coastal Women for Change has truly impacted my life in helping me to see society on a different levels which enables us a group to help people to be more progressive and maintain a better standard of life.
Naden

Coastal Woman for Change is an organization that has made a lasting impression on the communities they serve. They have taken on challenges that have made the community a better place to live. Having programs that serve seniors as well as young people has been a great help to the community and no one feels left out.

Coastal Women for Change (CWC) is one of the organizations that I and my company participate as a volunteer. As a person whose on several board, I must "pick and choose" the boards and events that I assist with. CWC has Great programs that serve the senior citizen population and children. The Backpack Giveaway services at least 4 counties in MS and no one include people from out of town is turned away. The Senior Citizens' Thanksgiving dinner serve seniors who may not get a Thanksgiving dinner. Along with other programs throughout the year. There are also educational activities like teaching the children to grow fresh vegetables and computer classes for the seniors. All these services are offered in a community of the underserved. The leader Sharon Hanshaw is consistently involved getting CWC involved with other non-profit organizations and activities. I have enjoyed volunteering and donating to this organization.

Coastal Women for Change is a great organization to volunteer with. They are committed to ensuring the community knows about and utilizes the resources that are available to them. The members of the organization are friendly and compassionate to the less fortunate in their neighborhood and offer their services without a need for compensation.

It feels so great to be associated with a wonderful group of people! One great thing about Coastal Women for Change it is a community based NONPROFIT organization that meets people needs in the community and provide services beyond their expectations. We have established contacts, developed relationships with the people of all backgrounds in our communities. With our executive director, Sharon Hanshaw's guidance I've grown to better appreciate the nature of the challenges we face as a nonprofit organization. I will continue to work on developing my skills as a volunteer to support the organization's needs and growth through this year's new challenges. As the communications officer for Coastal Women for change, I appreciate all the guidance and support offered to me and look forward to our continued work together as organization and community!!

This organization touches real people in need in a neglected part of south Mississippi. Its leader has stretched her presence from local into national and international disaster, environmental, and human rights settings. Help them stay on the game.

This organization is a special one because of the volunteers. I know for a fact that the ED went without pay for a year. Reason being the people the organization serve is more important than money. We cannot put a price on vulnerable communities.
The information they share is empowering for the success of growth.
The issues they address:
Youth mentoring @Detention Center
Senior Citizen Computer Literacy
Community gardening classes.

Thank you for bringing back home to a community in need.