Sharon Richardson

Sharon Richardson is the founder and executive director of Reentry Rocks and the founding reentry specialist at STEPS to End Family Violence. Both agencies are designed to meet the unique and complex needs of survivors of intimate partner violence and other forms of gender based violence.

Ms. Richardson is also the CEO and founder of the soul food business, Just Soul Catering, a social justice enterprise that hires formally incarcerated women. Just Soul breaks the barriers to employment while also giving back to society.

As a returning citizen, she uses her personal history to inform her professional work.  Her inspirational story and compelling style make her a sought-after speaker and educator. As a writer and producer, Sharon has staged several productions while incarcerated as well as at her church since her release. A role in the Vagina Monologues led her to Defy Ventures where she started her entrepreneurship. 

Ms. Richardson has presented on issues of domestic violence at Columbia Law School, Criminal Justice Action Network, CUNY Law School, trainings on the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act with the Correctional Association of NY, and as a guest on WBAI”s Talkback with Hugh Hamilton 99.5FM.

She has four units of clinical pastoral education in accordance with the College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy, an Associate degree in Social Sciences, and a Bachelor degree in Sociology. reentryrocks.org