Member Spotlight: Shavonda Stith

What prompted you to join Southside Wellness Coalition?

I was prompted to join the coalition when I was chaperoning a group of high school students to a YADAPP (Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project) Conference and the coalition assisted with funding to be able to attend. The support received by the coalition definitely gave me a strong interest in joining the group.

What do you consider to be one of Southside’s biggest challenges?

I believe there are many challenges that Southside Virginia faces, but one that I see in my community is the lack of extracurricular activities. This includes recreational centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, and mentoring programs.

What do you consider to be one of Southside’s biggest strengths?

I think a strength of Southside Virginia is the close-knit communities and the willingness of the community to assist and help one another.

What work or activity takes up most of your time?

I am employed by Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office in Lawrenceville, Virginia. My rank is First Sergeant and I am currently assigned to Brunswick High School as the School Resource Officer. There are 4 other School Resource Officers that I supervise on a daily basis.

What is something you’ve always wanted to do?

Since I started my Law Enforcement career, I have always wanted to open a rehabilitation center for juveniles that are headed down the wrong path with hopes that after the completion of my program they would be headed in the right direction.

What is your favorite quote?

“Action without vision is only passing the time, vision without action is merely daydreaming, but vision with action can change the world ” – Nelson Mandela