Rising Stars: Meet Benjamin Wills of Smyrna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Wills.

Hi Benjamin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Almost 20 years ago my wife and I got married and shortly thereafter moved into an under resourced neighborhood on the west side of Atlanta. We had committed to a one year program that’s mission was to “Love God. Love People. Nothing else matters.” We spent our days volunteering at a community center on the east side of town, meeting neighbors at nearby parks, getting to know people through community events, and attended a local church. It was during this season that many of the containers I had for faith and perspectives I had about the world were upended.

Fast forward to 2012, we had returned to the neighborhood with our 9 month old daughter after a short corporate career in Dallas, TX and I spent 40 days and nights during the season of Lent asking God to allow me to physically dream. I wanted to understand how I was made, what I was made to do, and what loving God and neighbor could look like in a community known as the largest open air heroin market in the SE United States, a major hub of sex and human trafficking, and a place where people born have an over 20 year life expectancy gap compared to other zip codes in Atlanta. That led to a dream to start a school with a mission to educate whole children, support whole families, and provide growth and change opportunities for whole communities. As a pay what you are able independent school, my wife and I and a dedicated board and team over the years raised the support from individuals, churches, corporations, and foundations to grow the school from 12 kids in one Kindergarten class in 2015 to a Pre-K through 8th grade school with over 100 kids by 2024,

In that time we also helped establish OaksATL Community Development to focus on the provision of safe, quality, dignified affordable housing. In the 10 years I led the school, Peace Preparatory Academy, we had another baby, adopted 3 children, I became ordained as a Priest, and trained to become a Spiritual Director.

Today I serve as the Founder, Executive Director of Sozo Justice Collective which exists to provide spiritual direction, soul care, and strategic support to leaders intentionally pursuing mercy and justice in their communities and lives. Blending my background as a community leader, strategic advisor, and pastoral presence to support the flourishing of all people and the renewal of all things is what I am up to in this season of my life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but a smooth road. The challenges of leading and scaling an organization in a historically marginalized and systematically disenfranchised community is one dynamic. Leading and living in the same context is another dynamic, and the general struggle of starting something new and leading consistently through uncertainty and change have all been parts of the story.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I lead an organization called Sozo Justice Collective which exists to provide spiritual direction, soul care, and strategic support to leaders intentionally pursuing mercy and justice in their communities and lives. Our vision is to create spaces for healing and hope on the way to a more just and beautiful world. I am most proud of the way I am using all the parts of my story to collaborate with God for the renewal of all things. What sets Sozo Justice Collective apart is that it is a community of healers, for healers, by healers. Everyone involved in and supporting this work, is doing their own work of mending something that is not as it should be in our world today. The practitioner led and guided approach helps leaders and lifelong learners feel seen as they pursue their own healing.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
In this season of my life I am most happy when I am present and deeply connecting with God, myself, and others. Every day I look for ways to notice how God is moving in my life and story, to connect with others through friendship and service, and to spend time moving my body. My favorite solo activity is running long distances with no music to connect with my breath, body, and to just be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sozojustice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sozojusticecollective/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benjamin.wills.5
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-wills-7802739/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MakingWholePodcast