Colonel Sharon Harmon is known for making history as being promoted as the first black colonel in the Rhode Island National Guard. She moved to the City of Woonsocket over 20 years ago from Newberry South Carolina. It was her father who sent her inorder for her to visit his sister (her aunt) and her three daughters (her cousins). Since living in the city Sharon has been able to create positive social impacts in the community’s education: with her time working as an elementary school teacher; basic needs: being able to provide basic needs for so many of the youth in the community over the years; and leadership: through being a role model and sharing her knowledge. Colonel has filled leading roles such as: the Connecting for Children and Family Teen Action Group Director, NAACP Woonsocket Youth Director, Children Crusade Coordinator, Big Sister volunteer, Saint James Baptist Church Youth Advisor and now as a LEAD mentor.
What keeps Sharon in Woonsocket are her close friends and community, she states ‘ I enjoy being close to my church. I like the community and activities here”. Sharon admits that her biggest challenge since living here has been the snow, stating ‘ I still haven’t overcome (that)’. What she feels is one of her greatest accomplishments (in addition to her making history becoming Colonel) is having her two kids. She keeps a lot of her traditional culture going by reminiscing on some of the ‘good ole’ days.