Shawn M. Weymouth, 2.9.1957-10.28.2021, will be remembered as a bigger than life energy. Shawn always fought for what was right, advocated for marginalized communities and often told you the hard truth. Shawn challenged you to be better and do better. She is mourned by her family, Jade Weymouth (her daughter), Cecilia E. Weymouth (her granddaughter), Patrick, Tom and Anthony Weymouth (her brothers), Ian Weymouth (her nephew & godson) and countless other friends.

Shawn joined The Bridge Counseling Center (now Community Solutions) in 1989 as the sole staff person in the Independent Livings Skills Program. This program, which prepared youth in the foster-care system for independent living, was a perfect match for Shawn's passion for raising up youth who had faced serious challenges in their young lives. Shawn revealed the opportunity to help the youth build their practical life skills while encouraging them to dream big and reach for the stars. She constantly reminded them that they had the power to rise above their current difficult circumstances if they did their part by putting in the hard work. Shawn never wavered on her part – walking alongside them, encouraging them, challenging them, and being their champion.

She was always looking for innovative ways to expose young people to new opportunities and experiences that would enhance their personal growth and inspire them to believe that they could make different choices than the ones they had grown up with.  For example, she organized trips to Southern California for youth to attend leadership development conferences, to Sacramento to testify in front of Congress members about rights for foster youth, set up college campus tours, and even camping and beach outings for youth who may have never previously left the suburbs of San Jose.  Despite her dedicated work at providing life skills training to foster youth in life, Shawn realized that no amount of education could counteract the fact that the average 18 year old was unable to financially sustain a livable wage and stable housing.  This led her to writing grants to obtain funds for a Transitional Housing Program and securing a contract in order to provide no-cost housing to homeless and former foster youth, ages 18-21 - the first of its kind in South County.  She scoured the neighborhoods of the city she loved so well to locate appropriate locations, met with concerned neighbors, and even moved across the street so she could be more readily available for the inevitable crises.  She then expanded THP to include pregnant and parenting homeless youth, and maintained contact with some of their children as they grew into adulthood.

Shawn then extended this same level of commitment and passion when working in the agency's transitional housing program for young moms. Her own life experiences provided her with a deep sense of understanding of the challenges the young moms faced. Shawn committed her whole heart to serving and supporting the moms and their babies, helping them to build a family foundation of love and well-being. Shawn's dedication and impact surely live on in the lives of all the young people she served.

After retiring from First 5 Santa Clara, Shawn was a Board member at Gilroy Compassion Center from 2014-2018. She became a founding Board member of Pit Stop Outreach in 2020. Shawn tirelessly  advocated for the unhoused in Gilroy.

Her most fulfilling role was a mother and grandmother. Shawn was over the moon to be a grandma and loved Baby Cecilia with her whole heart and soul. She will be missed and mourned by many. This speaks to the impact she made in this world, we hope that you all remember her and continue her legacy of giving back. And remember to be "safe, strong and free".