By C.S. Howard

Shavonda Sharre Griffin has worn many hats over the years – realtor, financial advisor, credit repair expert. She is a humanitarian, youth organizer, published poet, author, a minister and so much more. A lifelong resident of the Manasota area, she has launched non-profits and is known for her tireless work throughout the community.

Griffin’s greatest passion is for the betterment of her community and those within it, which is the very reason she started Project Ownership 101 – to give people a better understanding of not only what credit and credit scores are, but also how it affects an individual and what it means for their future. It is designed to help individuals meet their goals and achieve their dreams and help consumers get out of debt, improve their credit score, assist those struggling under crushing student loan debt, and obtain what they believed to be impossible.

Griffin has also devoted her life to serving youth in our community. She is founder of Billionaire Babies 101 which

“teaches our babies the true value of their worth,” she said. “God wants our children to understand their worth, and in turn, they will not be so eager to give themselves away to the ways of the world.”

The Billionaire Babies program takes children from learning to doing exactly what they have read about. Griffin helps families through the process of making their business legal and providing a platform for them to display. She has partnered with Newtown Nation and Valerie Buchand to set up the last Saturday of each month at the Sarasota MLK Park for the kids to sell their products and services to the community. The money earned each month is placed in their bank accounts.

Then there is Griffin’s community involvement which has been extensive. Her community service currently includes partnerships with Newtown Nation, Exodus Resource Center and Nature Wellness. She collaborates with Selby Gardens, Read Aloud, AARC, Avenue94 and Sarasota Ballet.

She is also on the board of Friends of the Betty J. Johnson Library. When asked about her community work, she said: “My work is extremely important because it shows my commitment to helping God’s people. There is so much work to be done and I feel that society has lost consciousness to human kindness. We have to learn to love the way that God loves and I think that the more we connect with each other, the greater we become as a unit.”

Griffin is also pastor of God Is Real Ministries and says her passion is being a servant of God and helping His people. “The youth are my heart because they are our future,” she said. “I put my all into teaching youth education development and financial literacy. It is imperative for our youth to receive as much knowledge as they can. The more we teach them now the better they will become, hopefully sooner than later in life.” Her advice to our youth is to learn as much as they can.

“Do not limit yourself, put God first and you can be anything that you put your mind to. Treat people kind, respect your elders, lift each other up, care about your community now and know that you’re never too young to choose God.”

A 1997 graduate of Palmetto High School, Griffin graduated from Manatee Community College – now State College of Florida – with an Associate Degree in Social Work. She has been recognized by many organizations for her community involvement including a Youth Empowerment Award, Active Concerned Citizens, Hometown Hero Award, Humanitarian Ward, Unsung Hero Award and Unsung Heroine Award. In her spare time, Griffin loves to sit in the park and connect with nature, hug trees and meditate. She also enjoys sitting by the water and listening to waves “while doing nothing at all but being present in the moment.”