When Shirley Raines started doing hair for half a dozen unhoused women, she had no idea her passion project would become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving hundreds in LA’s Skid Row every week. Through Beauty 2 The Streetz, Raines brings much-needed warmth, humanity, comfort, and even fun to the homeless population in downtown Los Angeles. And COVID didn’t slow her down at all: She just won CNN’s 2021 Hero of the Year award.

I got to speak with Raines about how working in the streets helped heal her trauma, what she believes our societal responsibility is toward our unhoused neighbors, and why sometimes all they need is to be kindly called by their own name.
 
Shirley Raines is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever interviewed. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Shirley Raines
Instagram: instagram.com/beauty2thestreetz
Twitter: twitter.com/beauty2streetz

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Jessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise, a channel dedicated to giving you news with real experts and providing information, not a panic attack.

Jessica is a veteran of network news, traveling the globe, covering conflict and crisis. A former Chief White House Correspondent for CNN, she reported from around the world and won awards.

Now, Yellin uses her voice to break down the news, calmly and clearly for you -- free of punditry, provocation, and yelling.