Paul Sharpe and his volunteer work in Long Beach.
Paul Norman Sharpe has lived most of his life in Long Beach, attending elementary, Junior High, and graduating from
Long
Beach Poly High. He graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a Bachelors in Math, served in the
U.S. Navy, got his second degree from Cal State Long Beach in Business Administration, and worked as a computer
programmer, manager, and consultant for Carter Hawley Hale Stores (The Broadway).
Paul Sharpe is fortunate, because of his wife Marianne, to be able to quit work in 2000 to be a stay at home dad for
their daughter Jessica. Since then, he has committed his free time to doing volunteer work for domestic violence
prevention and treatment organizations. In addition, he volunteers as the webmaster for his Synagogue Shul By
The Shore in Long Beach.
He started his volunteer work being the handyman for the Women Shelter of Long Beach, receiving their Volunteer of
the Year Award in 2003.
In June, 2006, he became a member of the Child Abuse Response Team (CART), sponsored by For the Child. Paul goes to
hospitals to advocate for sexually abused children during the Forensic Nurse examination, Police investigation, and
parent concerns. A part of this is informing the parents it is usually best for the child get treatment to
deal with the abuse because of its long term affects.
In January, 2005, he became a board member of End Abuse Long Beach, the organization that provides monthly forums on Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment. He is currently wearing two hats - Program Chair and Webmaster.
As a person knowledgeable in computer technology, he donates his time to develop and maintain six websites for
domestic violence organizations in Long Beach. As more people use the internet, they are able to have a ready resource for their Domestic Violence needs in the
Long Beach area.
But Paul Sharpe found his true passion in 2001 when he joined Long Beach ALIVE. He has taught over 2,000 4th and
5th grade students in the Long Beach Unified School District about child abuse. He feels great satisfaction in
delivering three messages. First, there are alternatives to beating when dispensing punishment. This
alerts the kids to get help now, and later to be better parents. Second, anyone touching a child in their
private parts is against the law. Third, to Break the Silence, there are lots of people to turn to for help.
Paul is looking forward to the years ahead by continuing to help kids in Long Beach and has a goal of growing the
Long Beach ALIVE's audience by getting into all of our Long Beach 4th and 5th grade classrooms.
In 2007 Paul Sharpe received the End Abuse Long Beach "Child Proctection Advocacy Award."
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Currently Paul is collecting his retirement from CHH and Social Security, enjoying his Domestic Violence Prevention volunteer work.