We are incredibly proud that our own, Rebekah Shelnutt, was selected as Cherokee Volunteer of the Month by the Cherokee Tribune. Keep up the great work, Rebekah!
Attorney selected as Volunteer of the Month
by Ashley Fuller
afuller@cherokeetribune.com
Rebekah Shelnutt of Canton wants to see her workload decrease.
As an assistant district attorney for Cherokee County, she handles cases involving domestic violence.
In an effort to reduce the number of domestic violence cases in the community, she joined forces with the Cherokee County Domestic Violence Task Force.
Her work with the organization has earned her the recognition of Volunteer of the Month for September from Cherokee Families of Cherokee United in Service.
Ms. Shelnutt, 30, has been volunteering with the task force for about three years. The task force seeks to strengthen the community’s response to family violence by increasing perpetrator accountability, enhancing victim safety and providing education and awareness to the community.
“By the time I get a case, a crime has been committed,” she said. “There has got to be something we can do to get in front of this.”
The task force is concentrating on sending its message to teenagers with a campaign under way to speak to groups of young people about the dangers of dating violence.
“That is a way to get ahead of the problem,” she said of targeting teens, adding that since they’re entering their first romantic relationships, it’s a good time to advise them on how to have a healthy relationship.
Ms. Shelnutt, who serves as the chairwoman of the task force’s Crime Victims Rights Week subcommittee, motivates other members, according to Niki Lemeshka of the Cherokee Family Violence Center.
“She is good at delegating and coming up with ideas,” said Ms. Lemeshka, who nominated Ms. Shelnutt for the recognition. “She knows how to make things happen. Combine that with her passion for the issue and she is a superhero.”
Sgt. David Simmons of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, a member of the task force, said Ms. Shelnutt is a “driving force” for the group.
“If she gets involved in something, get out of her way,” he said about her drive to get projects done.
Ms. Shelnutt, who also volunteers with Cherokee FOCUS and the Ahimsa House, earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia and her law degree from Georgia State University. She attends Canton First United Methodist Church.
Ms. Shelnutt said more volunteers are welcome - and needed.
“We would love to have more people involved,” she said, adding the task force sees a lot of interest from faith-based organizations.
