Honoring Our Founder: Shannon Olive
A Trailblazer Who Kept the Faith
Celebrating the life and legacy of Shannon Olive (1978–2025), Founder & CEO of WomenFirst Transition and Referral Center.
Shannon’s Legacy
Shannon Olive was more than our Founder and CEO—she was a force of nature, a sister, a neighbor, and a friend to so many. With grit, purpose, and a heart set on helping women rise, she built WomenFirst into a community where second chances are possible and lives are rebuilt.
Her mission was clear: to help women rediscover, rebuild, and reignite their purpose. And she did it with lashes done, laughter flowing, and faith unshaken.
Shannon’s impact
Shannon believed in people when they didn’t believe in themselves. She poured her soul into this community, building bridges, creating opportunities, and standing firm in the vision that women deserve dignity, healing, and purpose. She was:
Founder & CEO of WomenFirst
Advocate, Mentor, and Trailblazer
Champion for women rebuilding their lives
A voice for resilience, laughter, and faith
Shannon’s Messages to the Community
To our community, Shannon wanted you to know:
“Keep fighting for each other. Keep building bridges, not walls. Love out loud. And don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can’t do. You can, and you will.”
You can help continue her work by volunteering or joining WomenFirst programs. Or you can make a donation in her honor below
In Shannon’s Words
As Shannon said in her obituary (of course she wrote her own obituary!):
“Don’t sit up in here being sad. You know I wouldn’t want all that long-faced crying. This is a homegoing, not a hostage situation. Get it together! Let’s celebrate—blast some good music, laugh until your stomach hurts, and wear whatever looks good on you in my honor.”
Make a donation
Shannon reminded us often:
“I was a trailblazer. I left my footprint. And most of all, I kept the faith.”
Her legacy will continue in the lives she touched, the community she built, and the mission we will carry forward.
About Shannon
Shannon Olive was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She has two sons who also live in Portland.
After graduating from Concorde Career Institute with her Medical Assistant in 2004 it was very challenging to find a job. Later that year, she was introduced to Oregon Action by Johnnie Gage during the George Bush vs John Kerry 2004 Presidential Election and they were recruiting for their voter registration campaign.
Shannon never voted, but that year discovered that she can too make a difference and was glad to be a part of something different. Shannon was unstoppable, and now had joined the social movement, fighting for our rights, addressing issues then and now that would make Oregon a better place for low-income communities of color. Her first organizer position was with OPAL (Organizing People, Activating Leaders) and Environmental Justice Group in SE Portland. She organized their first Bus Riders Campaign and they informed over 2,000 Bus Riders about the fare increase and budgets cuts.
After her work with OPAL, Shannon returned to Portland Community College to further her education with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. While attending school she became an employee working with ASPCC Student Government for two years as the Director of Legislative Affairs. In June 2015, Shannon received her Associate Degree. Shannon has been serving her community since 2004. Now she’s the Founder/President for WomenFirst Transition & Referral Center, working to serve women in re-entry and recovery - supporting them to rebuild their lives to succeed. She will never stop. The fight is in her and she will continue to fight for change until it comes.