Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylah Williams.
Hi Kylah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am Kylah Williams. Born and raised in Atlanta, Ga. If I had one word to describe my life. It would be perseverance. I have faced many of life’s adversities from juvenile delinquency, teen mother, exploitation, becoming a convicted felon at 19, and homelessness. I have also achieved many of life’s ultimate goals including working at the biggest tech company in the world, starting up my own non-profit organization, and being the world’s most diverse mother 🙂 So whether it’s tears of joy of frustration one thing remains the same. My name, my integrity, and my perseverance to do this thing called life no matter how hard the circumstances. Kylah Williams is she… and I am her. A proud black woman but over everything… a survivor!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Becoming a convicted felon at 19 years old in 2008 only 8 weeks after giving birth to my one and only daughter was tough enough. But after being released 10 years 6 months and 6 days later, I had no idea how hard life would become. For the most part, most people, when incarcerated, can only think about all of the great things they are going to catch up on. Fun, traveling, music, good food, etc. However, once you are released, reality sets in… Bills, finding stability, trying to raise a child that doesn’t really know you. Plus, all of the childhood trauma and different issues that you didn’t necessarily forget but just kind of “swept under the rug” because your current situation doesn’t require you to think about the past. But rather focus on how you can get through your prison sentence the best way possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
After numerous attempts to find a stable job, I was introduced to a program called Hire Hope that focuses on women needing second chance opportunities that come from many different life’s struggles such as human sex trafficking, exploitation, aging out of foster care, homelessness and even women with criminal backgrounds. It’s a job readiness program that has a 12-week apprenticeship following a 25-week paid-for working. I not only completed the program but went on to become a poster child for some of my most prestigious accolades including a feature in the global weekly newsletter and learning different skill sets and a proficient level such as Sales, Market Research, Data Analysis, Recruitment for several Fortune 500 companies and finally learning Software Engineering for one of the biggest tech companies in the world. And while I love what I do and all that I’ve learned I have always had a great passion for Non-profit and philanthropy. I ended up creating AIMO- Affirm I am. Org. It is my newly and still under-construction, non-profit organization that will soon be birthed and ready to show the world. I have a lot of love to give and would love nothing more than to be a voice to those in need. The voice I wish I had growing up…
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Honestly, I would love to thank my daughter first… because no matter the things we’ve gone through she has always stuck by my side. She had faith in me even when I didn’t see it in myself. She is the very reason I go so hard today. I have met a team of wonderful people while residing in Roswell, Georgia. Mrs. Becky Nelson, director of Huskies Helping Huskies at Crabapple Middle School. It is because of her organization that my daughter and I were able to leave comfortably in December 2021 while I battled Covid at Emory. Fatimah Wadood, an active member of the Islamic organization ICNA. Fatimah not only introduced me to the Hire Hope Program, but she as well as a lot of the other brothers in the Islamic community helped me with shelter, food, and clothing while I was homelessness and struggling to find a way in the streets of Atlanta. And last but not least Mr. Aaron Miller the co-pastor at Crosspointe Community Church in Roswell. This man is the epitome of a stand-up guy. Him along with his wife Stephanie Miller has been a helping hand in keeping my daughter busy during some tough times in our lives. Whether it was taking her out for ice cream or funding her trip to a prestigious summer camp for an all-out experience. They have made dreams for us that I never thought would be possible. And for that, I am so very grateful. I would love to thank everyone that has been a helping hand in my life. No words could express the amount of gratitude that I hold on my heart for you all
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Divine.lotus.feminine_
- Facebook: Kylah Williams
- Other: (TikTok) @Divine.lotus.feminine
Image Credits
@8amimages
