Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Williams.
Hi Angela, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am Angela Williams Founder of Change Your Story Inc this was a God-given idea that came about in 2007 when God told me I would soon help women and teenage girls all over the world. I didn’t know at the time what I would be doing for them, but now I know that helping young women and teenage girls find and fulfill their God-given purpose in life is what I am called to do. Change your story is a uniquely formed non-profit organization that will help change the script of a woman’s and teenage girls story. Change starts with your thinking and having the right thoughts can lead to everything in your life becoming positive. Growing up, I saw how drugs and alcohol destroyed my mom, brothers and other family members. I thought this family curse would destroy me, but I was able to change my own story before it could. I saw how my mom would get high on drugs and would try to kill my grandmother; I also saw how she tried to commit suicide right in front of me. If drugs could make a person be that way, then I wanted no parts in that. My grandmother taught me not to follow that path and I made the decision on my own to be better than my mother.
Drugs killed her in the year of 2000 and drugs kept her from being the mother my brothers and I needed. When my grandmother passed away on July 5, 1981, my story began. I moved to Atlanta with my aunt, uncle, and four cousins in August of 1981. I quickly saw that life didn’t get any better for me. While I was in Atlanta, I didn’t feel like I was wanted, so I moved around a lot. I was on my own until I got married and had children. I’ve always searched for stability and happiness because I never had a home and because of this I fell into abusive relationships with men. I would date for some kind of stability, even though I’ve worked since I was 14 years old. My life has always had its challenges. When I was born the doctor said I would not live long. But God gave my grandmother wisdom on what to do. I am here today because God had a plan for my life. He knew that one day I would help others to change their stories but first I had to change my own. Over the course of my life I have endured many great challenges but, I’m the women I am today by the grace of God. I broke my family curses by making a decision to be different and I want to help other women and teenage girls do the same.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all! The initial start of Change Your Story Inc. began with me encountering women with financial, family, and emotional challenges. I would repeatedly find myself buying meals, hotels stays, and other fees for women who were in difficult times. I also worked in the school system for over 20 years as a volunteer mentoring students. It was during this time, that I first identified the need for a program such as Change Your Story in the schools but was denied. The teens go through so much mentally, emotionally, and spiritually but are rarely effectively mentored through life’s challenges. It broke my heart not being able to save the kids from such horrible situations. It was the culmination of trying to tackle such a big task on my own with the women and teenagers I encountered along with the resistance to the schools not wanting such a program that Change Your Story began. But I moved on and started the program in my home in 2017.
With great success, we had 10 girls or more every week. When I moved into my office at the end of 2019. The next challenge would be finding the right people that have the heart for the girls and women. I refused to let just anyone speak into their lives or be in their presence if they lacked the compassion and love for what the ladies are going through.
However, the biggest challenge is getting people to fund our program. People mostly look at the bigger nonprofits that have millions of dollars already and pass on the smaller nonprofits like myself, but I don’t let any of these challenges stop me from the success of seeing the ladies get to their Destiny.
We’ve been impressed with Change Your Story, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Change Your Story Inc is a lifetime mentorship program designed to enrich the lives of women of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. We believe that to build strong communities that we must first focus on building the people! Change Your Story Inc empowers women to achieve their goals through education, counseling, job placement, and housing. Our Hey Gorgeous Campaign focuses on teenage girls. Our life development program includes but is not limited to courses in: identity branding, mental health, professional etiquette, interpersonal skills, financial literacy, time management, and physical health. The ladies can enjoy learning how to cook a meal in our culinary class or how to achieve manners and etiquette in our Ladies of Refinement class!
We offer scholarships to our teens at the completion of a four year program to start a business of their own or to attend college. We actively partner with business professionals as well as the community to invest financially into the future success of these women and teenage girls. Many of our ladies have overcome difficult life challenges to transition into a life full of purpose and success! What is different about Change Your Story Inc versus other non-profit organizations is that we truly care about the development and long-term success of each woman and teen. We strive to have a standard of excellence that is unmatched. From the signature pink decor to the rose petals leading into the entryway we make great efforts for each women to feel cherished! We are most proud of seeing the overall transformations of the women and teens that we mentor! Seeing a woman who was once abused, neglected or impoverished blossom into and independent, confident fearless women is an incredible reward! We are preparing each women and teen for the future.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The advice I have for anyone looking for a mentor is to make sure the person is living the life in which they are trying to mentor you in. Mentors can’t help anyone if they are still broken themselves, and not healed on the inside. You should sit down and interview your mentor. Make sure they have a heart and compassion for people. This advice has helped me find a good mentor. I have watched both my mentors for a few years before I chose them. Both mentors Tala Price of PPM Global Tulsa, Ok & Ingrid M Harris in the state of Mississippi is why I am going to continue to be successful. They give me the TRUTH no matter how I feel, because telling a lie can’t change your story.
Contact Info:
- Email: changeyourstoryinc@gmail.com
- Website: changeyourstoryinc.org
- Instagram: changeyourstoryinc
- Facebook: changeyourstoryinc
- Youtube: changeyourstoryinc
