Sharwline Nicholson, in her writing, underscored what guided Susan Schechter herself: "keeping a mom safe will result in safety for the child." She is an immigrant woman from the Caribbean who works for Home Depot where she began as a cashier, going on to be promoted over the five years she has been employed there. She is also a domestic violence survivor who experienced the worst of the child welfare system. Ultimately she turned pain into power by beginning a lawsuit which became a landmark case: Nicholson v. Williams. In this case, a federal judge decided that the practice of removing the children of battered women from their custody was erratic and unfair, further punishing mothers already victimized by domestic violence.

Nicholson pursued this suit at great personal risk because she wanted to help other mothers and their children faced with similar issues. As a result of her success, she has been invited to many domestic violence conferences and colleges to speak, conduct workshops, participate in plenary sessions and facilitate dialogues. She has been active in several organizations in New York City including serving on the board of the Child Welfare Organizing Project and on the advisory board for the Child Welfare Watch. Her goal is to work collectively at addressing the systemic issues which directly affect mothers and children. She truly is an emerging leader who has a platform from which to launch a career that holds the potential of changing the landscape with regard to the response to child abuse and domestic violence.

Nicholson’s proposed project is producing a video on the landmark case that bears her name for law students, child welfare workers, domestic violence advocates and survivors. She believes that professionals who hear directly from someone affected by the issues in the case about the changes in law and the rights of battered women and children will be more likely to act accordingly. This policy and practice change strategy is linked to local organizing work through which she wants to educate residents in her own neighborhood (Central Brooklyn) about the ramifications of her case thereby empowering victims who may face challenges similar to those she has experienced.

Project Update:

Nicholson is in production on a video titled, "Balancing the Harms," that focuses on issues and discussion that emerged from the decision in the landmark case that bears her name. This compelling video reveals an unintended and often overlooked consequence of domestic violence and child welfare practice – the trauma of removal. Professionals and survivors share their experiences to help all of us understand how the removal of children in domestic violence cases deeply affects the lives of children and their families. Understanding that exposure to abuse is harmful to children, this film reminds us that removal is not the answer. Balancing the Harms will stimulate new discussion, thought and solutions to help children who are exposed to domestic violence and are involved in the child welfare system. It is time for us to balance our focus and protect our children from further harms. Children can and do recover from witnessing domestic violence. What are we doing for our children who were removed, still in care and or aged out of care? Everyone who cares about children and domestic violence should not miss this film by Sharwline Nicholson. The intended audience for this video is social service professionals, law and social work students and advocates who work with families. This is meant to be an empowerment tool for women and children.

She believes that professionals who hear directly from someone affected by the issues in the case about the changes in law and the rights of battered women and children will be more likely to act accordingly. This policy and practice change strategy is linked to local organizing work through which she wants to educate residents in her own neighborhood (Central Brooklyn) about the ramifications of her case thereby empowering victims who may face challenges similar to those she has experienced.  Over the last year, Nicholson has presented at a number of conferences, trainings, and events such as conducted a workshop on putting a human face to the issue of domestic violence at CONNECT’s training Institute, (CTI), delivered a keynote address at Grafton County Greenbook Project’s Cross Systems Training, participated in a plenary titled, “The Strength of Mothers and Children Together: Transforming Adversity through Courage, Determination, and Hope,” and led a workshop for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges conference, “Changing the Buzz, participated in a plenary discussion titled “Balancing the Harm: Looking at Issues of Child Protection and Domestic Violence,” and led a workshop for the Muskie School of Public Service, participated in the University of California at San Francisco’s conference; “Ending Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking in the 21st Century,” convened a community forum discussion of Susan Schechter’s Fellowship and the journey to the Nicholson class action lawsuit for the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and many others.  If you would like to hear more about Sharwline’s video and her work in the community please email:

Watch the Trailer Now!

sharwline@balancingtheharms.com