Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela K. Williams.
Angela, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a survivor of child sexual abuse from age 3 to 17 and as a survivor has used my trauma and journey to healing to help break the silence and give others the courage to speak out and heal. I have worked in child advocacy in various positions from volunteer to running a non-profit over the past 20 years to help build CSA healing and prevention programs. As a victim’s advocate, I have worked on legislation to extend the civil statute of limitations, developed curriculum, “Physician’s Power To Protect,” currently being taught at Medical College of Georgia, and helped create a prevention program for elementary school-age children called, “Find Your VOICE.” I have authored my personal memoir, “From Sorrows To Sapphires,” and been blessed to share my story in over 100 TV and radio appearances, and share tips for parents to learn signs and symptoms and how to protect their children. I hold a Masters in Forensic Psychology that has to give me a deeper understanding of the psychosocial impact of child sexual abuse on our society.
I am a Georgia real estate broker, licensed since 1986 and am the founding partner of Covenant Advantage Realty Team.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Working in child sexual abuse, one of the most difficult social issues, and being a survivor myself has been one of the most challenging of missions. The non-profit world presents so many challenges from lack of funding to lack of resources to exhausting needs of victims’, all extremely challenging struggles. I am currently on sabbatical as a result of complete exhaustion after 10 years of non-stop advocacy work. My advice to other women is self-care and that taking time out for yourself and your own healing is paramount to living a balanced and happy life. Though we all have a calling, God does not expect us to sacrifice our lives, our health, our families, our joy for those callings. This is a difficult lesson that I am learning daily. Saving our children from CSA is so much larger that one person, one organization, one policy change and we have to view our work as a farmer, planting seeds of change, that will be watered, tilled, fertilized and harvested by others. So, often we as women, want to see the immediate results of our efforts and sometimes we will never reap the fruit of our hard work, but that does not mean that future generations won’t reap the benefits of our blood, sweat, and tears.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I have worked over the past 10 years to help our community break the silence and cycle of child sexual abuse and Angela’s VOICE is a brand known for courage and consistency with a message that we can save our children if we learn to identify risky situations, recognize the signs and symptoms and have the courage to intervene. My determination and diligence set me apart from others. I am a messenger, willing to share my story so that others may understand the issue of child sexual abuse on a deeper level and to be an encouragement to other survivors to break their silence and seek healing.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
In my experience, I would encourage others to have caution and discernment in who you invite into your life as a mentor and pay close attention to the fruit in their life. A great choice for a mentor would be those that you see succeeding in the area that you seek growth. I have been blessed to have amazing women mentor me that have blazed the trail before me in healing from child sexual abuse.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.angelakwilliams.com
- Phone: 678.644.5589
- Email: angela@angelakwilliams.com
- Instagram: angelasvoice1
- Facebook: angelakwillaims
- Twitter: @angelasvoice
- Other: www.cartga.com
Image Credit:
Angela Williams
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