Toshia Shaw

It takes a remarkable person to commit themselves to life-learning while teaching others what they learned. That particular person is Toshia; she has always been an exceptional learner, fascinated with discovering and growing. However, it hasn't always been so easy. She wrote her first full length novel, at the age of seven, where she won first place in a writing competition in Illinois. It was then she knew she wanted to become a writer however, life had other plans. After a tumultuous childhood, Toshia navigated life's turbulent waters throughout her adolescence and early adulthood with resiliency; emerging as a victor.

To take steps towards healing, she penned the fiction novel entitled, High Stakes, in the year 2000 and self-published it in the year 2010. With firsthand knowledge about what goes on in the nightlife of Las Vegas, Nevada. She set tongues wagging when she gave us all a sneak peek inside the shrewd nightlife of "Sin City." Her followup novel, Roulette was released in the Spring of 2013.

In 1999 Toshia spoke with a spiritual guide who told her that although, she would indeed become a writer, she would also help others in a spiritual way. After a harrowing experience Toshia received spiritual enlightenment, and started out on a quest in helping others by recording a Spoken Word CD entitled, Open Book. She performed locally on a regular basis spreading her message about life, love, social issues, and the uplifting and empowerment of youth. It was also during this time she became a Domestic Violence, and HIV/AIDS advocate. The proceeds she made from her musical events were donated to the YWCA, and Friends for Life Organization in Memphis, Tennessee.

As a domestic violence, and human-trafficking survivor Toshia is now a keynote sparker where she raises awareness about these topics and the power of faith, hope, and healing. She is the Founder and President of Purple W.I.N.G.S Organization; a non-profit directed at helping at-risk, and exploited girls of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Toshia has been named by Las Vegas City Life Magazine as Local Hero 2012, Las Vegas Business Magazine as a, Woman to Watch for 2011. She has also been chosen as an Ambassador for Peace, by the Universal Peace Federation. Toshia is a proud mother of two children, and hard at work penning her memoir.

Watch Toshia's TEDx talk as she transforms audiences with her harrowing journey out of sex trafficking at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d