GAZELLE MAGAZINE WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH EDITION | Page 92

WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
Turning Experience
into Empathy
ST. LOUISAN ADVOCATING FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN
By Vi c k i Fr e n c h B e n n i n g t o n

Shante
Duncan
founded
S.H.E.R.A.H.
in 2004.
90
GAZELLE
W
ith a passion for serving as a resource for the
community, Shante Duncan, founder and
executive director of Sisters Helping Each Other
Reach A Higher Height, has led the grassroots
organization for more than a decade.
S.H.E.R.A.H is dedicated to creating safe spaces for women and
girls of color, and empowering them to assist in the rebuilding of
local communities. It started in 2004 as a small, healing sister circle in
Duncan’s living room, at a time when she was looking for clarity after a
horrible breakup.
She was 23.
Through word of mouth, the group began to grow. After hearing
feedback from participants and realizing how great the need for such a
group was, Duncan passed out flyers, and participation increased even
more, as it continues to do today.
“Women and girls of all ages came from around the area – even elders
from Illinois – and they began to heal when they shared their stories,”
Duncan said.
The scope of the meetings also grew, and along with sharing personal
stories, now include a topic speaker, meditation, and learning about
mompreneurship, how to find love, networking or journaling.
The organization’s most recent accomplishment is making the Joan
B. Quinn Safe House for girls, 12 to 17, a reality. The project has been in
the works since 2014.
“We started getting calls from girls and women who were homeless
and needed help with housing, or who were being raped or abused. We
looked for places that could help them and hit some roadblocks,” she
said. “We wanted to create a safe environment.”