Participant Biographies and Project Descriptions
Shirley Cole
Shirley’s passion for designing clothes was evident early on as she excelled in sewing and possessed fashion talent and leadership skills in high school. She assisted her Home Economics teacher for two years by helping students with sewing projects. While in college, these skills helped her develop her own design business creating dress designs, patterns, and sized clothing. Some of these original dresses were sold to boutiques in the San Diego area. Later, while keeping sewing in her life, Shirley went on to become the Executive Director of North County Lifeline, Inc. She helped disadvantaged populations develop self-sufficiency and life skills for a happier, healthier life. As the Director of four regional offices of Project JOVE, Inc., a San Diego non-profit, she worked within the communities to assist former prisoners with employment, housing, and educational needs. Along with these major contributions to the community, over the past eight years she has volunteered her time and expertise designing and sewing costumes for the Carlsbad High School Drama Department. Additionally, she designs and sews formal gowns for participants in State Junior Miss competitions, opera pageants, and other related formal events. Given Shirley’s past and current experience working with in-need populations, along with her skillful and creative abilities as a seamstress, she is highly qualified to work with at-risk youth.
Shirley is teaching teenagers the art of designing and sewing their own clothes through her self-titled SEW (Students Expanding Wardrobes) Project. The youth enrolled in the SEW Project are participants in North County Lifeline’s after school program. With sites in Oceanside and Carlsbad, Lifeline's mission is to "enhance the positive quality of individual, family, and community life.” Many of these students are from low-income families, one parent households, and are at risk of delinquent behavior while others may be learning disabled or academically challenged. Through her capacity to create an encouraging and positive environment, Shirley hopes students will be proud of their successes, and are able to develop mutual respect for one another while finding humor and joy in each person’s individuality. She states, “Teaching young people skills to sew, mend, and design clothing they can be proud to wear, will also enhance creativity and significantly increase self-confidence, self-esteem, and make for a better student.”
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