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Dr. Willie Williams

As a community leader, mentor, and educator, Dr. Willie Williams is fully committed to eradicating social and economic injustices for diverse populations. He has dedicated most of his career as a social work professional and community advocate to working with youth, families, and community. For Dr. Williams, career achievements carry a different meaning: the outcomes of the lives he impacts. His extraordinary ability to relate to at-risk youth and their skill-sets, while developing youth service programs makes him sought after in the community. Additionally, for more than a decade Dr. Williams has specialized in tackling social issues and ensuring the positive development of young people through mentoring and professional workshops. Dr. Williams has dedicated significant time towards providing recommendations and guidance on program structure to several youth organizations. Dr. Williams served as a National Director for Distinguished Young Gentlemen of America, Inc. (DYG). As the National Director of Internal Affairs, Dr. Williams played a vital role in establishing measurable goals and outcomes.

With all these efforts and outreach Dr. Williams has embarked upon, also comes increased community profile and recognition: Notably as the Social Worker of the year for the Big Bend National Association of Social Workers and the Golden A.C.E. winner for Authentic Community Engagement.

Questions & Responses from Dr. Willie Williams

• Discuss growing up in a military family and the challenges you faced growing up? Explain how those challenges shaped you into the person you’re today.
  • Growing up as a military dependent was one of the most exciting times I experienced as a youth. I had the opportunity to travel and experience various cultures in different cities and countries. The biggest challenge as a youth growing up with a parent in the military was learning how to adjust to new surroundings and different ways to make new friends on a continuous basis. Because of my experience in a military family, I can adapt to any environment and build networks in any situation.
• Please provide insight as to why it’s important for children to be exposed to positive Mentors such as coaches, etc. Why is it also prudent to advocate that these youth athletes also become members of other mentoring programs outside of the actual club/team.
  • It is important for youth to be exposed to mentors such as coaches because there is always a need for youth to develop a network for additional guidance and support outside of their parents/caregivers for times of difficulty. As a youth in a military family, it was the presence of coaches throughout the numerous schools I was able to connect with that helped in guiding me through feelings of being alone and angry. It is prudent for youth athletes to become members of other mentoring program(s) outside of actual club/team so they can establish a large support system of people that will be there to guide them through in every situation.
• Explain why it’s important to mentor all youth in our communities regardless of their socio-economic status or demographics?
  • It is important to mentor all youth in our communities regardless of their socio-economic status or demographics because we are all in a sense one community. No matter the side of town you reside all communities can be impacted by negative conditions such as homelessness, inadequate nutrition and food insecurity, unsafe neighborhoods, and underresourced schools which adversely impact our children. The more we are involved with building all communities the safer our children will be outside of the home.
• How can someone such as a youth coach develop a mentorship program that can be facilitated in addition to the regular track program
  • A youth coach can develop a mentoring program that can be facilitated in addition to the regular track program by networking with other youth professionals that have similar programs in place. Linking with those of similar visions and goals will help programs align faster and become more sustainable.
• In your book there was section called “Where Do I Belong? Can you explain why it’s important for our youth to identify their purpose in life even at a young age.
  • “Where I belong?” will be a constant quest of life because we should be continuously growing and in pursuit of the next level. It is important as a youth to start this journey early with the help of mentors so that you can begin refining what it is you want to do and who you want to be. The earlier you start this process the more you will enjoy and find satisfaction with life.
• What advice would you offer to our USATF youth athletes about identifying and facing challenges that they are experiencing?
  • Connect, Connect, Connect! The best way to identify and face the challenges of life is to link up with someone who has been in the same position. There are many adults and even older youth that may have been where you are. Find them, and let them help you through your own troubled times.