Shalon Buskirk

I attribute my success to genuinely loving to help people and being a connector and a fighter who stands up for my staff and advocates for them to the fullest. That's just who I am as a person. I've been doing advocacy work for youth and gun violence prevention for over 20 years because these causes are very near and personal to me. When I lost my two sons to gun violence, the game changed - when it's a personal connection, it happens to you differently. I needed to turn my pain into purpose. I went back to school while navigating two tragedies and trauma, which was really hard. The degree I'm pursuing now is not for me - it's for my older son, Paris. I also started a nonprofit because I needed to get out of my head, and it's tailored to my son's name. I align myself with organizations that are a personal connection for me - I don't just do it to make it look pretty on a resume like some people do. I have to make sure I have a seat at the table and that my voice is heard, not just for me but for all other women who are fighting for a seat at the table. And first and foremost, God - along with my mentors Jean Raymond Hoffman and my mother Helen Easterling - they've been there for me through everything.

The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my mentor Jean Raymond Hoffman, my mother Helen Easterling, and my faith, all of whom taught me to stay grounded in integrity, lead with compassion, and trust that even in difficult moments, purpose and resilience will guide me forward.

You have to align yourself with something that's really meaningful to you. Don't just do it because it looks good on a resume. If you have experienced a tragedy, turn that pain into purpose. It's hard - there's days where I don't want to get out of bed, but I have to. Give yourself grace. Don't let anybody put a timestamp on your grieving. Don't let all the naysayers tell you that you can't do it, because you can. You have to believe in yourself. As women, we have to empower women. We have to uplift them. We can't tear them down. There's so much jealousy and envy in this world, and with the way the world is working, that's what people want - they want to tear you down and not believe in you. I believe every woman can do it. You just have to align yourself with great women who support you, who believe in you, and who has your back. If you're not okay, you can't show up and be your best you. I needed to take my own advice. I'm too busy pouring into other people, I forget about me.

The biggest challenge right now is advocating for safer gun laws and trying to ban Glock switches in the state of Pennsylvania. 27 states have banned Glock switches already, but we're working on making stronger gun laws because the way people just buy guns off the street is alarming. It's personal to me because I lost two sons to gun violence. Another challenge has been navigating grief while continuing my advocacy work and education. I stepped away for a little bit because I needed to work on me - if I'm not okay, how can I serve the people that I advocate for every day? I needed to make sure I'm okay. I'm too busy pouring into other people, I forget about me. As a Black woman, I have two strikes against me already, so I have to make sure I have a seat at the table. I need to make sure my voice is heard, and my voice is heard for all other women who are fighting for a seat at the table.

The values most important to me are being trustworthy, being a great listener, being ambitious, and being assertive. People take being assertive as a curse, especially as a woman, and for me, being a Black woman, I have two strikes against me already. So I have to make sure I have a seat at the table. I need to make sure my voice is heard, and my voice is heard for all other women who are fighting for a seat at the table. Communication is key - you have to be able to effectively communicate, both orally and in written form. Representation matters - I look just like you. I align myself with organizations that are a personal connection for me. I don't just do it to make it look pretty on a resume like some people do. If I could just help one mother, one grandmother, one aunt, one guardian, and let them know, hey, I see you, I've been there, I have walked that walk with you, but I'm willing to walk beside you to get you through these dark, tough days.