Shear Haven YWCA

Who We Are

Shear Haven is an initiative of YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, co-founded by Nashville-based salon owner and stylist Susanne Shepherd Post. A survivor of domestic violence, Susanne is committed to educating the community on the signs of abuse and the resources available to help victims. This domestic violence awareness education program equips stylists with the knowledge and tools to recognize the signs of domestic violence, successfully navigate conversations with clients who may be in danger, and pass along tools that can help them get to safety.

YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, Susanne, and members of the YWCA’s Advocacy Committee spent several years meeting with Tennessee lawmakers and educating them about the crisis of domestic violence in our communities and the need for this training throughout the beauty industry. In early 2021, the Tennessee Senate unanimously passed legislation requiring domestic violence awareness training and the Tennessee House soon followed with near unanimous approval. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee on April 13, 2021 and took effect January 1, 2022.

Since the launch of the online training, more than 100,000+ people have taken the training in over 100 countries around the world.