Sharon King has lived with vitiligo for over 20 years. Vitiligo is an auto-immune disorder that manifests in white patches on the skin and hair. Diagnosed in 1999 at the age of 12, adolescence was no picnic. Options for support outside of medical treatment were few and far between. "Support" websites were clinical and unwelcoming so Sharon decided to just deal. She threw her energies into sports and writing poetry while combating the everyday transgressions that inevitably come with living with differences.
Over the years, Sharon developed a strong sense of self. By the time she graduated from high school, Sharon participated in many leadership programs as well as earning the title of captain of her varsity basketball team. Due to injury, Sharon was unable to play basketball at the collegiate level and managed the team instead. Now, Sharon is a coach, certified basketball official and a spirited spectator when her son Ladanion is on the court. Sharon stays active in the basketball community most notably as the Director of Operations for the SISrun Sports women's program.
In 2017, the vitiligo on Sharon's face began to spread. This was not uncommon but for the first time in her life, she wasn't upset or anxious about her skin changing. A peace she had never known washed over her as she smiled in her rear-view mirror realizing that she had finally accepted herself unconditionally. This motivated Sharon to create what would become Litty Ligo.
Litty Ligo is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit community organization for families living with vitiligo and institutions that serve children living with differences. Founded in 2017, we curate programs, workshops, events and campaigns to connect with the millions of people living with vitiligo globally and allies seeking to understand. We partner with organizations, businesses and institutions that serve people living with differences to improve quality of living and quality of care.
With the help of volunteer advocates worldwide, this network of support has become a known entity in the vitiligo community. Living with differences and experiencing major life changes can be traumatic and come with a range of emotions. Being subjected to bullying, avoidance, and uninformed opinions can lead to low self esteem, the development of complex mental health disorders and suicidal ideation. We strive to ensure that the vitiligo community and our allies are educated and empowered while holding institutions accountable for delivering culturally competent, person-centered care.
Over the past three years, Sharon has collected notable accomplishments. She has collaborated with the City of Boston, prestigious education institutions, renowned businesses and respected non-profit organizations to educate and empower people from all walks of life.
In 2018, Sharon facilitated the women's forum at the World Vitligo Day Conference in Houston Texas. In 2020, Sharon was a panelist for the first ever virtual World Vitiligo Day in the United States and went on to host the event in 2021. She also served as a speaker for the first ever virtual ADA Day hosted by the Boston Center for Independent Living and the City of Boston. In 2019, she was a speaker at the Boston Women's March proclaiming to a crowd of over 10,000 "I am a strong, powerful woman and my skin does not define me."
In 2020, Sharon was a panelist for Beyond Skin Deep, an Atlantic Live virtual event that highlighted the psychological and real-world repercussions of a beauty obsessed society for people living with rare skin conditions. In the same year she also testified before the FDA in favor of funding for person-centered care for people living with vitiligo.
In September of 2020, Sharon participated in the 2020 AAD Virtual Legislative Conference advocating for protection for dermatologists and their patients during these uncertain times.
A strong, powerful woman indeed.
Credits:
Sharon M. King