Celebrating and amplifying Islanders of color who help shape the vibrant, diverse fabric of the Martha’s Vineyard community. Sign-up for a monthly newsletter by Sharisse Scott-Rawlins below.
Voice bySharisse: The conversation continues
When I first invited Islanders to answer one simple question — What does freedom mean to you and your community? — I knew I was curating a special section. I didn’t realize I was beginning a long-overdue conversation. Since publishing the first installment of Voices on Freedom, which has been appearing in our News section,…
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VOICES bySharisse: When women build the space
There is something powerful about women who see what is missing and decide to create it. Not because someone asked them to. Not because the path was already clear. But because they recognize a need and trust their vision enough…
VOICES bySharisse: Written into the land
Black history on Martha’s Vineyard does not begin with a proclamation, nor does it wait for February. It lives in the endurance of families who planted roots in places like Oak Bluffs when permanence was never guaranteed. It exists in…
VOICES bySharisse: The NAACP in the 21st century
Long before equity became a popular talking point, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was born out of necessity. According to the Martha’s Vineyard branch “NAACP Centennial Souvenir Journal,” the NAACP was founded in 1909 at…
VOICES bySharisse: The gift of craft
Martha’s Vineyard is known for many things — its beauty, its heritage, its artistry — but one of its most quietly powerful strengths is the diversity of its writing community. Here on this small island, voices from every background converge:…
VOICES bySharisse: Vineyard Grocer’s season of gratitude
VOICES bySharisse: New Life in the heart of Oak Bluffs
VOICES bySharisse: Turning Pain into Purpose
VOICES bySharisse: At the heart of every great school
VOICES bySharisse: August on Martha’s Vineyard: A month of Black brilliance, legacy, and joy
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Sign-up for VOICES
A monthly newsletter celebrating and amplifying Islanders of color who help shape the vibrant, diverse fabric of the Martha’s Vineyard community.
Sharisse Scott-Rawlins
Sharisse Scott-Rawlins is a storyteller whose work takes many forms—through fashion, writing, poetry, community engagement, and the preservation of history. A third-generation Washashore with deep roots on Martha’s Vineyard, she is the founder and designer of the fashion design and production brand bySharisse, established in 2010; author of the self-help poetry memoir Dear Fellow Warrior; and founder and curator of Voices bySharisse, an editorial platform created in partnership with The Martha’s Vineyard Times.
Through Voices bySharisse, Sharisse celebrates the rich and diverse fabric of Island life while preserving stories, elevating community voices, and highlighting the people, traditions, and initiatives shaping Martha’s Vineyard today. She created the platform in honor of her grandparents’ legacy as trailblazing educators and community leaders whose impact continues to be felt on the Island and beyond. Sharisse believes storytelling has the power to connect people, preserve culture, and inspire change.