Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawndra Merriweather.
Hi Shawndra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Shawndra Merriweather is a dedicated advocate for abused, neglected, and abandoned youth in Gwinnett County, Georgia. For over a decade, she has been passionate about addressing the needs of homeless, at-risk, and foster care children, working tirelessly throughout Gwinnett County and parts of Metro-Atlanta to bring awareness to the challenges these young people face.
Shawndra’s extensive experience with the juvenile court system includes serving as a Guardian ad Litem, Child Advocacy Coordinator, Juvenile Mediator, and Family Consultant. In these roles, she has advocated for hundreds of children to ensure they were returning to or remaining in safe and stable environments. This commitment to providing safety and stability for at-risk children led Shawndra to establish Magdalene’s Gate in 2008, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting runaway female youth between the ages of 12-17. The organization’s name was inspired by Luke 8:2 and Ezekiel 46:9, reflecting her vision of transformation and forward movement for youth in crisis.
For over three years, Shawndra has served as a Crisis Counselor with the National Runaway Safeline, providing crisis intervention services for young people and their families across the United States through their national hotline, connecting youth with resources and even locating shelters when possible. Through Magdalene’s Gate, she maintains a 24-hour runaway hotline for teens, offering crisis counseling and assistance.
As a member of the Georgia Human Trafficking Task Force for over two years, Shawndra co-chairs a workgroup focused on youth awareness and safety. This group is dedicated to preventing human trafficking among youth and educating both professionals and young people by equipping them with tools, resources, and preventive strategies. The workgroup collaborates with professionals, nonprofits, and organizations throughout Georgia.
Shawndra’s community engagement extends across multiple organizations and initiatives. She has served on the Restorative Board of Fulton County, organizing meetings between teen offenders and victims as an alternative approach to crime and justice, and has worked as a Community Liaison for Stand Up for Kids, assisting homeless and runaway youth in downtown Atlanta. She has also led Runaway Prevention and Human Trafficking Awareness classes for teens and parents at One Life Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia, offering these vital educational sessions both in person and virtually to maximize their reach.
In partnership with A21, a global organization combating human trafficking, Shawndra has hosted annual Walk for Freedom events in Peachtree Corners from 2021 through 2024. These walks bring awareness to human trafficking in the local community, with participants marching in black and holding signs to demonstrate that human trafficking exists even in their own neighborhoods.
Beyond mentoring children, Shawndra mentors other organizations working to assist at-risk youth in their communities, including the founder of Priceless Jewels, a Thomasville, Georgia non-profit providing education and services to at-risk women and girls.
In 2022, Shawndra was honored with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Rising Star Award in recognition of her outstanding community service and leadership.
While working toward her ultimate goal of providing emergency and temporary shelter for runaway youth in the metro-Atlanta area, Shawndra partners with organizations and libraries to support runaway and at-risk youth by providing hygiene kits and non-perishable food items. When Magdalene’s Gate’s facility becomes a reality, it will offer not only a safe haven from the streets but also individual and family therapy, immediate medical and educational support, and comprehensive counseling aimed at preventing human trafficking, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, suicide, sexual abuse, and juvenile delinquency. She continues to raise funds through grants and local fundraising to support this vision.
Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Shawndra has called Gwinnett County home for over a decade. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management from Florida A&M University, a Master’s in Public Administration from Walden University, and a Master’s in Child Law from Loyola University Chicago. Currently, she works for the State of Georgia as a Family Consultant with the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) in the Child and Parent Services division, where she also serves as a member of the Employee Advisory Board.
Through her hotline, educational classes, and numerous partnerships, Shawndra continues to provide critical resources for teens and parents, ensuring that Georgia’s most vulnerable youth have access to the support and protection they deserve.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey with Magdalene’s Gate has been anything but smooth, though every challenge has only strengthened my resolve. I founded the organization in 2009, and life took some unexpected turns. After having my son in 2011 and going through a divorce, I had to move back to Fort Lauderdale with him. For a few years, Magdalene’s Gate had to take a backseat as I focused on rebuilding my life as a single mother.
When I returned to Georgia, I was determined to revamp the nonprofit, but I was starting almost from scratch—rebuilding connections, reestablishing partnerships, all while working full-time and raising my four-year-old son alone. I’m sure other nonprofit founders can attest: juggling single parenthood, a full-time career, grant writing, maintaining a social media presence, fundraising, and attending collaborative meetings with other organizations is an immense undertaking. There were many late nights and moments of exhaustion when the road ahead seemed impossibly long.
But I can’t imagine giving up on Magdalene’s Gate. It’s more than a nonprofit to me—it’s a dream I’m dedicated to seeing come to fruition. My passion for helping boys and girls who run away from home runs too deep. These young people deserve someone fighting for them, and every obstacle I’ve overcome has only reinforced why this work matters. The struggles have taught me resilience, and they’ve made me more determined than ever to provide the safe haven these vulnerable youth desperately need.
We’ve been impressed with Magdalene’s Gate, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Magdalene’s Gate is a nonprofit organization with a goal to provide emergency temporary shelter for runaway youth between the ages of 12-17 in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Founded in 2009, we are deeply rooted in faith and inspired by the biblical story of Mary Magdalene—a woman who experienced transformation and healing. Our name reflects our mission: just as Mary Magdalene was healed and transformed, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to move forward into a safer, more stable future.
What We Do:
While we work toward our ultimate goal of establishing a physical youth shelter, Magdalene’s Gate currently provides educational classes covering Human Trafficking Awareness, Runaway Prevention, and Internet Safety for parents and teens, and supports runaway youth by providing essential hygiene kits and resources to help them regain stability and self-esteem. We maintain a crisis hotline for teens that offers immediate support and resources when young people need it most.
Our programs are comprehensive and include:
-Educational workshops on human trafficking awareness, runaway prevention, and internet safety for teens, parents, schools, churches, and community organizations
-essential hygiene kits and non-perishable food items distributed through partnerships with organizations and libraries that assist runaway and at-risk youth
-Crisis intervention through our hotline and my work as a counselor with the National Runaway Safeline for over three years
-Community awareness events, including our annual Walk for Freedom (2021-2024) in partnership with A21.
What Sets Us Apart:
What distinguishes Magdalene’s Gate is our holistic, multi-faceted approach to youth protection and our unwavering commitment to meeting young people where they are—literally and figuratively. We don’t just wait for a facility to open our doors; we’re actively serving youth right now through prevention education, crisis intervention, and immediate support with essential supplies.
According to the State of Georgia’s residential child care website, there are only five known youth shelters in the entire state of Georgia. We are unique in that we will be joining this critical fight to become another youth shelter in Georgia—a desperately needed resource. What most people don’t understand is that these shelters run solely on grants and fundraising. This means organizations like ours must be innovative, persistent, and resourceful to sustain operations and serve vulnerable youth who have nowhere else to turn.
My unique background also sets our organization apart. I hold a Master’s in Child Law from Loyola University Chicago, a Master’s in Public Administration from Walden University, and certificates in nonprofit management, project management, and event planning. I currently serve as co-chair of the Georgia Human Trafficking Task Force’s youth awareness and safety workgroup, where we collaborate with professionals, nonprofits, and organizations across the state to prevent trafficking and equip communities with tools and preventive strategies. This combination of legal expertise, child welfare experience, and statewide collaborative leadership allows Magdalene’s Gate to operate with both compassion and professional rigor.
Additionally, I’m currently studying for my real estate license—a strategic move to help us identify and secure the right facility for our future shelter. This demonstrates our innovative, solutions-oriented approach: we don’t just wait for opportunities; we create the expertise needed to make our vision a reality.
What We’re Most Proud Of:
I’m most proud that Magdalene’s Gate represents hope, transformation, and unwavering advocacy for society’s most vulnerable young people. Our brand isn’t just about what we’ll do someday—it’s about what we’re doing right now to prevent exploitation, educate families, and support youth in crisis. We’re known for being accessible, responsive, and deeply committed to collaboration with other organizations rather than working in silos.
I’m proud that we’ve maintained our mission and expanded our impact even through personal challenges, including rebuilding the organization as a single parent while working full-time. This resilience is part of our brand story—we understand struggle, and we never give up on the young people we serve.
What Readers Should Know:
Magdalene’s Gate is more than a nonprofit—it’s a lifeline. Our vision is to create a comprehensive emergency shelter that will provide not just housing, but individual and family therapy, medical care, educational support, and counseling aimed at preventing human trafficking, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, suicide, sexual abuse, and juvenile delinquency.
Until that facility becomes a reality, we’re meeting urgent needs through education, crisis intervention, and practical support. We believe every runaway youth deserves safety, dignity, and a path forward—and we’re working every single day to make that belief a reality in Gwinnett County and beyond. Readers should know that when they support Magdalene’s Gate, they’re investing in prevention, protection, and the promise of transformation for some of our community’s most at-risk children.
How do you define success?
To me, success is waking up every day and doing work that doesn’t feel like work—it’s doing what makes you happy and fulfilled. True success isn’t measured in dollars or accolades; it’s measured in purpose and impact.
At the core of my definition of success is my relationship with Jesus and striving daily to be the best version of myself—one that reflects Him in everything I do. Money doesn’t bring happiness, and time cannot be purchased. These truths have shaped how I approach my work and my life. I want to spend my time wisely, doing work that I genuinely enjoy and that matters beyond myself.
Success, for me, is changing lives and living with purpose. It’s knowing that the work I’m doing with Magdalene’s Gate—whether it’s answering a crisis hotline call at 2 a.m., teaching a classroom of teens about human trafficking prevention, or working toward opening our shelter—is making a real difference for young people who desperately need someone in their corner. When I can look back on my days and see that I’ve used my time to serve others and honor God, that’s when I know I’m truly successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.magdalenesgate.org
- Instagram: Magdalenesgate
- Facebook: Magdalenesgate
- Other: Magdalene’s Gate- Tiktok
