Toya Williams

My career in workforce development spans almost 20 years, though I honestly fell into it naturally. I started at Malcolm X College in Chicago, where someone spotted my ability to provide feedback and thought I would be a good fit for their new healthcare programs. Within less than a year, I became Director of Employment and Placement, overseeing a Career Center that served over 10,000 students across 21 health science programs. I worked closely with deans, clinical coordinators, and hospital administrators to understand their challenges and design workshops that would prepare our students not just for job opportunities, but for clinicals as well. I spent 15 years at Malcolm X College before moving to Atlanta, where I worked for Year Up for 2 years with interns. Now I am Program Director at Strive Atlanta, overseeing a staff of 12 people and two programs: Career Path for adults 18 and older, and Future Leader for young adults ages 18-24, typically participants who have a background. When I arrived, the site had gone through three program directors before me, and nothing had been set in stone, so I have put quite a few processes in place to streamline how we do things. I have always had a passion for working with people who are underserved and need additional support. Even before Malcolm X, I worked for a research and evaluation company called RECI, working with young adults at risk for HIV and juvenile delinquency. I am always on the front end, trying to deter the behavior that would get you somewhere else, always trying to provide additional assistance and support. That is what I love to do: developing people.