The Department of African American Studies would like to honor Shirley Raines for her contributions towards caring for the homeless in Skid Row. Shirley Raines, known for being 2021 CNN Hero of the Year, is a self-made beautician, community advocate, and founder of Beauty 2 The Streetz, an advocacy group that has been feeding, beautifying, and supporting unhoused people in Skid Row located in Los Angeles, California. Her organization provides necessities including food, shelter, hygiene products, connections to resolve poverty and homelessness in the local community.

In 1990, her 2-year-old son passed away from accidental poisoning at his grandmother's house and Raines struggled with coping her son's death and finding her life purpose. She struggled for years with financial insecurity, grief and loss.

After volunteering with her friend in Skid Row, she connected with the community and did individual make-up sessions before opening her outdoor beauty salon. 

Now, she has more than 4 million followers on social media full of people who not only want to help but also follow her work and life to serving the homeless.