Celebrating Black History Month with Sharon Roberson

BLACK HISTORY MOMENT: The theme for Black History Month 2025 is "African Americans and Labor," and we are celebrating all month by highlighting some of the incredible professionals that have helped make Clarksville one of the best places in the country to live.

Today, we are recognizing Sharon Roberson, President and CEO of Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

While currently based in Nashville, Sharon is a proud graduate of Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, where both her parents, Dr. Robert Kendall and Lettie Kendall, worked as educators. She has three siblings, Yvonne, Donald and Ronald (yes, they're twins!). She is a seasoned executive with 30-plus years of experience in the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors.

Since joining YWCA 16 years ago, she's broadened the agency's services by expanding the Weaver Domestic Violence (DV) Center, creating a children's program at the shelter, and opening the largest DV pet shelter in Tennessee. She's overseen the expansion of all school-based and adult education programming.

"Sharon comes from one of Clarksville's most prominent families. Her parents, Dr Robert and Mrs Lettie Kendall, are icons in our city for their spirit of community service, and commitment to the ideal that public education works. I have been friends of the family for more than fifty years," said Mayor Joe Pitts.

"Her hometown is proud of the groundbreaking work Sharon is doing as President/CEO of the YWCA and in the greater Middle Tennessee region."

When asked if she had any advice for people who would like to make a positive change in their community, Sharon said this:

" I would ask them to choose something to have a passion for. For instance, my passion has always been children and civil rights… You might love the parks. You might love animals, so choose something you're passionate about, something that you would volunteer for, even if you weren't getting paid to do it now.

"It's going to take hard work. I also say that, something you do as a volunteer, put your all into it. Do that as if you were getting paid for it."

Thank you Sharon Roberson for everything you do!