Sharon Shelton, M.A.
Chief Operating Officer
YWCA Greater Los Angeles
Sharon Shelton, M.A.
Sharon Shelton is the Chief Operating Officer for the YWCA Greater Los Angeles. She has held several positions in her 27 years with the organization. In her current position, she has expanded the organization to 175 staff, interns and consultants impacting more than 100,000 individuals and groups. She oversees several distinct program areas: Early Childhood Education, Economic Equity, Clinical Mental Health Services, Gender-Based Violence, Racial Equity, Senior Engagement Services, Workforce Development as well as a Social Enterprise Print Center.
Under Sharon’s management a strong foundation for programs is evident; the Early Childhood Education Program expanded its served population by 40%, with a focus on the intellectual development of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. In addition, as a result of her direction, the YWCA GLA now operates the largest Sexual Assault Crisis Services Program in Los Angeles County, managing three rape crisis centers and two university gender violence programs. Sharon oversees the Digital Learning Academy, a technology training program designed to address the digital skills gap in today’s labor force.
Throughout her involvement in the social empowerment movement, Ms. Shelton is called upon to advocate for social justice issues exemplified by the YWCA mission. Commissioner Shelton served on the Alcohol and Other Drug Commission addressing issues and the negative impact of substance use disorders on the quality of life for individuals and their families in Los Angeles County. She is the former Chair of the Los Angeles Community Action Board which has oversight for delivery of anti-poverty services to impoverished communities. In March 2017 she was appointed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to the Women and Girls Initiative to better address the disproportionate disadvantages faced by women and girls. Sharon holds a Master of Arts Degree in Behavioral Science and has a Certification in Mediation and Conflict Management issued by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office.