Shirley Raines
Known forFounder of Beauty 2 The Streetz
Children6
AwardsCNN Heroes

Shirley Raines is the founder of the non-profit Beauty 2 the Streetz, which provides hair and makeup services, food, clothing, hygiene and safety items to thousands of homeless people in Skid Row, Los Angeles. In 2021, she was chosen to be the CNN Hero of the Year.

Biography

Raines grew up in Compton, California.[1] In 1990, her two-year-old son, Demetrius, died of accidental poisoning while staying with Raines's grandmother. For decades following this, Raines struggled with financial insecurity, grief, and loss.[2][3][4][5] Following this loss, she found that self-care and beautification helped her face her grief.[6] In 2017, when on a feeding mission on Skid Row with her church group, Raines found a "purpose for her pain," seeing a connection with the experience of the Skid Row community members.[4] Her dramatic and colorful personal style raised interest of the homeless residents she was serving.[7] At the time, she was working as a medical biller.[5]

Raines and her children regularly returned to Skid Row, helping to hand out food, drinks, hygiene kits and beauty products that Raines funded.[8][3] Raines returned alone to color people's hair and do their makeup. When Raines began livestreaming the events and posting pictures to her the Beauty 2 the Streetz Instagram and TikTok pages, her efforts gained popularity, and Raines was contacted by licensed hair stylists, barbers, makeup artists and makeup companies who wanted to join her work.

In 2019, Raines registered Beauty 2 the Streetz as a 501(c)(3) organization. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Raines shifted the priorities of Beauty 2 the Streetz to adapt to the changing needs, working with health services to turn their outpost into a COVID testing and vaccination site and providing PPE and education along with the food and other supplies Beauty 2 the Streetz normally provided.[9] Raines also advocated for the homeless community, who had minimal access to important hygiene resources.[4][10]

In 2021, she was chosen to be the CNN Hero of the Year. In 2022, Raines was one of 17 activists who shared the stage with Lizzo upon accepting the People's Choice Awards for "The People's Champion."[11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Valenti, Lauren (2020-04-06). "Shirley Raines on Helping the Homeless of Skid Row During COVID-19". Vogue. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  2. ↑ "Unsung Hero: Shirley Raines". University of Maryland Department of African American Studies.
  3. 1 2 Torgan, Allie (April 21, 2022). "CNN Hero of the Year Shirley Raines has more to give to the 'Kings' and 'Queens' of Skid Row". CNN. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Torgan, Allie; Escobedo, Tricia (2021-12-13). "Shirley Raines, who brings beauty and hope to Skid Row, is CNN's Hero of the Year". CNN. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  5. 1 2 Caraballo, Ecleen Luzmila (2021-09-02). "The Los Angeles Woman Bringing Beauty to the Homeless". The Cut. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  6. ↑ "Why *Everyone* Should Have Access to Self-Care". Cosmopolitan. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  7. ↑ DiMaggio, Emma (2022-06-16). "This Long Beach-based nonprofit brings 'Beauty 2 the Streetz' of Skid Row". Signal Tribune. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  8. ↑ "Shirley Raines | Not All Queens Live In Castles". flaunt.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  9. ↑ "Shirley Raines Is Giving Makeovers to the Unhoused Community in L.A." Allure. 2022-02-10. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  10. ↑ Netzley, Luke. "Shirley Raines brings beauty, empowerment to Skid Row". Los Angeles Downtown News - The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  11. ↑ "Lizzo used People's Choice Awards speech to 'amplify marginalized voices' of these 17 activists". Los Angeles Times. 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  12. ↑ Madarang, Charisma (2022-12-07). "Lizzo at People's Choice Awards: 'If I'm the People's Champ, I Don't Need a Trophy for Championing People'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  13. ↑ WordInBlack.com (2022-12-20). "Meet the Unhoused Community Advocate Lizzo's Celebrating". The Sacramento Observer. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
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