Charlene Sherman — Community, Culture & Career
By Charlene Sherman, Program Manager, Cash Services
Charlene Sherman, a senior-level Program Manager in our Cash Services group, gives us a brief insight into her life, career, and work with Mosaic in honor of Black History Month.
I was born in San Francisco at Letterman Army Hospital in the Presidio when it was still an Army base. At the time of my birth, my father was serving in Vietnam. When he returned home, he completed college at San Francisco State University and began working for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency as a bus driver while my mother was a stay-at-home mom.
My parents were determined to provide my sister and me with a good education and a safe place to call home. So, when I was five years old, we moved from San Francisco to a house my parents purchased in Concord, CA.
Today, my parents still live in the same house where they raised my sister and me. I always enjoy visiting with my mom and dad, and I cherish beautiful memories of growing up in that house. On Sundays, we’d eat pizza as a family at the local pizzeria and afterward head to the bowling alley where I watched my dad, mom, and sister excel as bowlers. (Unfortunately for me, guardrails weren’t yet available, so bowling was not my favorite activity.) Although I no longer live in Concord, my childhood home is a part of my identity; the support and love I experienced shaped who I am today.
Blended Cultures
I am so grateful to be raised by two people from loving, tight-knit families. My dad was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. My mom was born in Nicaragua and immigrated to the United States when she was 12. Although they come from culturally different backgrounds, my parents were raised with strong family values. Our home was always filled with music, dancing, food, and laughter. If you were to visit my home today, you might experience my Latin culture as I serve a traditional Nicaraguan dish of Gallo Pinto (rice and beans), alongside plátanos (plantains) and queso frito (fried cheese), or I may dive into my southern roots and indulge a craving for my dad’s meatloaf and gravy. My cooking exploits are displayed most weekends when my friends and family stop by for a home-cooked meal.
All my life, I have been surrounded by strong women. They have shaped me into the person I am today, and their strength is the inspiration that drives me. You can learn so much from the people around you. My grandmother immigrated to San Francisco, California, from Nicaragua in the early 1960s when she was about 38 years old. She did not speak English. She told me she was so determined to learn that she bought tapes and taught herself. Today she is 98 years old, and I love that she is still here to share her wisdom and pass down our family history.
I grew up mainly around my mom’s side of the family but recently visited Charleston, South Carolina, where I reconnected with my dad’s family and my Black heritage. I had very little exposure to my dad’s extended family growing up. So, while attending college, I joined the Black Student’s Union and participated in activities focused on the Black experience. My cultural understanding was fostered through meaningful friendships and connections with other Black families. So, going back to my dad’s childhood home gave me a more profound sense of belonging as I learned more about my family history.
Education Connection
I am passionate about education because people of color in the United States have historically been denied an education and made great sacrifices to attend school. I recently received my doctorate from Saint Leo University. My education is in business management, and my work is focused on gender differences and career success by exploring intrinsic abilities. Recently completing my doctorate represented the fulfillment of one of my life’s dreams. The research that accompanied my degree allowed me to expand my passion for helping others develop and grow. After completing my doctorate, I took a month off from work to reflect and enjoy this accomplishment.
Now I’m back to my work here at the San Francisco Fed as the Cash group’s NextGen Implementation Strategist: I’m a senior-level program manager working on a once-in-a-lifetime project: after many decades, all Federal Reserve Banks in the nation are implementing new currency processing machines over the next several years. I was excited when I came across the position because it perfectly fits my skill set and background. I joined the Bank more than five years ago as a business relationship manager working in the Information Technology Services (ITS) department. The skills I acquired managing people, processes, and projects in technology and operations made me a good fit for the NextGen program role. Leading this large-scale effort is right up my alley.
Fantastic mentors have helped me grow in my role and supported my professional journey here at the Fed. I could not have succeeded at work or fulfilled my personal goal of obtaining a doctorate without the support of key leaders and colleagues. In turn, I am committed to giving back and enjoy seeking opportunities to use my skills for others, like volunteering my time and working with the Bank’s employee resource groups.
Fostering Community
Mosaic is our employee resource group focused on promoting cultural awareness and fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals of African descent. It’s been my joy to participate in key initiatives to help the group expand its reach to create a supportive environment for Black employees, including educating and working with allies. As the former chair of Mosaic, I had the pleasure of interviewing some of the SF Fed’s key leaders, including Rosemary Turner, former chair of the Board of Directors, and David Porter, executive vice president of strategy for People and Culture.
For Black History Month, I found some online content that I have watched and shared with friends and family this year. I also passed along information from the System African American Employee Resource Network, A Great Moral and Social Force, a book written by Timothy Todd, which serves as a historical reference on Black community banks and serves as a guide to help all Americans think differently about our relationships with banks; and Descendants, a documentary directed by Margaret Brown that follows the descendants of the survivors from the Clotilda, the last ship that carried enslaved Africans to the United States.
I also participated in Mosaic’s Sole 2 Soul walking challenge on the Rally app!
Favorite quotes from a prominent Black figure
“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” Madam C.J. Walker
Madam C.J. Walker was African American Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. She is recorded as one of the first female self-made millionaires.
