Julianne Moore Instagram – My #WomenCrushWednesday this week is Sharline Brown, a gun violence survivor and activist from the Midlands of South Carolina.
Sharline is a volunteer with @BeSMARTforKids, a campaign that aims to prevent suicides, school shootings, and unintentional shootings by children and teens by promoting secure firearm storage. Sharline was drawn to this work following the death of her brother, Willie “Will” Henry Manning Jr., who was shot and killed nine years ago yesterday. In her words, “I turned my pain into a purpose and a passion–and that passion is Be SMART.”
Sharline joined her local Be SMART program in 2019 and has been integral to its success ever since, promoting secure gun storage all throughout the greater Columbia metropolitan area. In a TV interview, Sharline shared some of her more recent work with the campaign, including a partnership with twenty Midlands-area barber shops to offer free gun locks as well as efforts to recruit more Be SMART volunteers through her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta.
Sharline contributes her group’s success to the support of her community. “I would like to share this recognition with my fellow volunteer leaders Merie Mirosavich and Sarah Venn. My team would not be able to carry out our important work without the unwavering support of our volunteers, community leaders, and valued partners. We understand that by joining forces as a community, we can make a significant impact in ensuring the safety of our community through awareness and education.”
Thank you, Sharline, for honoring your brother with your action, and thank you to all the #WCWs working to keep our children safe. To watch the full interview, check the link in my bio, and learn more about @BeSMARTforKids by texting SMART to 644-33. | Posted on 04/Jul/2024 01:31:37
