SB Ambassadors come with Lived Experiences
Simply the Basics has an opportunity for members of the community to become Ambassadors of our services and programs. It is important that our Ambassadors come from a variety of diverse backgrounds and experiences, including those with lived experiences of homelessness that can help advise our programs.
We are proud to welcome our newest Ambassador, Shari Y.L. Etheart! Below is an interview with Shari:
How can you better achieve goals when you have hygiene and basic needs met?
For those of us who are in a state of abundance it is very important to support others and to share with and empower those in need. Hygiene equals confidence and today there is a cost to everything. For someone who is not able to afford the basics of self-care, and with the average working wage staying the same, (not even including unexpected financial emergencies) the stress of meeting life’s daily obligations, plus the cost of housing in the Bay Area, it can be exhausting PLUS overwhelming for even the strongest of individuals.
Once a person’s basic needs are met, a person can then relax the mind and begin to focus on achieving personal goals when the immediate needs are met. Confidence translates to value, and how a person values themselves and sees themselves can dictate so much about their perception of the outside world.
The outside world is not as scary or lonesome as long as we all can come together and that is why community is so important.
Why is providing Hygiene important to you?
Why is providing Hygiene important to me? Because I have been your clients before!!! I have been there, I know how it feels, and I what was worse was that I was in college at the time. I experienced homelessness three separate times during my college experience and I myself come from a middle class background. Homelessness can happen to anyone, and I know this firsthand. During my 20s, I ran in a large group of LGBTQ youth and many of whom I still have strong bonds with to this day. My friendships occurred over a decade ago, but the plights that my friends experienced back then are still common issues for our youth now. That is why Hygiene is important to me.
To feel fresh clean and confident is a game changer, and I want to actively align with other charities who help the homeless with rebuilding their lives.
During my 20’s I had the displeasure of observing the many painful life circumstances. Homelessness and prostitution to name a few. I not only became friends with some of the most vulnerable within San Francisco's youth, but in due time I also became them after experiencing rejection from my immediate family. It was during this time of rejection and isolation chose to finish my degree in Cultural Anthropology and go on to later complete a 4-year degree. As part of my curriculum, I was required to become an active volunteer. Toward the latter part of my college career, I later held a six-month unpaid internship in the Bayview District. I have kept a close eye on specific charities who mirror my personal plus professional interest, and Simply The Basics has had my eye for at least two years now... maybe even three!
What does Dignity mean to you?
Dignity means having a strong sense of self cupped with the knowledge of oneself. Through my own previous experience with homelessness I can attest that sometimes in life we are thrown a strong curveball.
It takes dignity and self respect for a oneself to pick themselves up from the ground and give this world another try.
To be part of an organization that actively works to aid in the rehabilitation on ones dignity is integral to my own professional development as well as personal.
Share a fun fact about yourself!
I recently reached a career goal of being accepted into a Professional Women’s Network. The name of this Nationwide Professional Organization of called The National Coalition of 100 Black Women!
If you would like to become a Simply the Basics Ambassador, you can learn more HERE!