Ep. 322 Shereen Rahming

Shereen Rahming is a children’s author, educator, and activist whose journey began in Belize, where she was born and raised before bringing her vibrant cultural perspective to Southern California. Her background as an immigrant and a woman of color deeply informs her work as an educator and her commitment to fostering inclusive environments for children. While living in Ladera Ranch, Shereen became a prominent figure in the local activism scene, working alongside close friends to challenge the conservative and often exclusionary culture of South Orange County.

Her visibility as a community leader first aligned with host Jeanne Pepper in 2019, when both women were honored in the OC Family magazine "Inspiring Moms" edition—Jeanne as the cover feature and Shereen as a featured profile. This initial intersection was only a precursor to a much larger, darker narrative they would eventually share. Both women’s lives and their responses to tragedy and intolerance in Orange County caught the attention of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eric Lichtblau.

Shereen’s courageous testimony regarding the rise of extremist ideologies in suburban neighborhoods, alongside Jeanne’s own experiences, became central to Lichtblau’s definitive work, American Reich: A Murder in Orange County, Neo-Nazis, and a New Age of Hate (released 1/6/2026). The synchronicity of their shared presence in this book—a chronicle of the "New Age of Hate"—is what ultimately led to this reunion.

The final "strange synchronicity" occurred at a local Starbucks, where a volunteer spotted Shereen reading American Reich. Upon striking up a conversation, the volunteer discovered that Shereen wasn't just a reader, but a featured interviewee in the same pages as Jeanne. This moment of discovery bridged the gap of years and geography, bringing these two "Inspiring Moms" back together to discuss the power of voice, the reality of hate, and the hope that comes from standing one's ground.