Women Making History 2026: Sharon D. Rogers | Community Resource Manager, Family and Community Engagement Leader, Community Action Advocate | A Chronicle News Spotlight Series

Courtesy Photo: Sharon D. Rogers

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For more than four decades, Sharon D. Rogers has dedicated her life to strengthening children, families, and the very foundation of community.

Her professional journey began in Kentucky, where she studied Home Economics with a specialization in Child Development at Murray State University. After graduating, she relocated to Lansing, Michigan, and began what would become a lifelong commitment to early childhood education and family engagement.

Her work has spanned Community Nursery programs, Community Action initiatives, and Head Start programming. What began as service at the classroom level has grown into leadership at the administrative table, influencing programs company-wide and shaping opportunities for generations to come.

Rooted in Service

Sharon’s inspiration was planted early.

Her mother, Annie Ruth Brown, modeled what it meant to serve with compassion and integrity. She taught her children that strong families build strong communities, and that we are responsible for one another. Watching the respect her mother earned through service shaped Sharon’s understanding of leadership long before she held a title.

Her connection to this work is also deeply personal. Sharon was once a Head Start student herself. She experienced firsthand how early childhood education, parent leadership opportunities, and wraparound support can change a child’s trajectory.

She has lived the full circle.

From helping her mother fulfill produce orders as a child, to completing a Head Start internship, to serving as a Head Start teacher supporting 36 families, then supervising programs serving up to 180 families, and now managing initiatives that reach families across the organization, her growth mirrors the very opportunity she advocates for.

Beyond her professional role, Sharon continues her service through Galilee Baptist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the Lansing Association of Black Social Workers. Service, for her, is not a job description. It is a calling.

Generational Impact

Sharon’s hope is simple and powerful.

She wants women, especially mothers, to see themselves as leaders, decision-makers, and advocates for their children. She wants families to feel informed, supported, and confident navigating systems that affect their lives.

Her work extends beyond administration. As a children’s book author and the creator of Mrs. Sharon’s Reading Corner on YouTube, she ensures that children see themselves reflected in literature. Representation builds pride. Pride builds possibility. Possibility builds legacy.

She believes that when families are equipped and empowered, children thrive academically and socially. That is how generational change happens.

Advice to the Next Generation

Lead with integrity.

Stay rooted in purpose.

Do not underestimate the power of your voice.

Growth requires courage. Leadership requires consistency. Surround yourself with people who challenge and uplift you. And remember, your work matters, even when the results are not immediately visible.

Quote

“I was once the child served. Now I serve so others can rise. Proof that opportunity changes lives.”

YouTube: Mrs. Sharon’s Reading Corner

Website: https://www.mrssharonrc.com