Welcome to the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, episode 25, 'Dedication to Community' with M Quentin Williams, Founder & CEO of Dedication to Community.
Scott Chesney is back with me as my special guest co-host. Scott and I interview M. Quentin Williams. Quentin is known by his friends as Q.
In his childhood, Q lived on welfare for many years with his mom. Q believed that if he could just get a job in corporate America than he would be ok. Carrying a a briefcase, wearing a raincoat, and having an office was the bar he set.
In school Q struggled with reading. He could speak and read phonetically well, but he basically faked it to get through. Through consistent study, he graduated at the top 5 of his class, but the struggle for him continued. He finally learned how to read efficiently in college.
Q shares that the shame he was carrying about not being able to read well and being on welfare was painful and that it impacted every relationship he had in life. Listen to how he set that shame free.
Q started his career as a bouncer and paralegal. Through determination and with assistance from a mentor that helped to steer his career path, Q become an attorney, an advocate, author-educator, sought after speaker and thought leader who draws on his personal history as a former FBI agent, federal prosecutor, and has held senior positions with the NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the NBA.
Q says, ''it must be noted that you never truly make it. There is always going to be challenges and struggles." He goes on to say the acceptance of the journey is the best part of life.
When Q worked for the Jacksonville Jaguars he was told that in sports you are nobody until someone fires you. Yet, at that point Q had thought he was on the journey to become a sport teams GM and eventually own a team. When he moved on to the NBA he was let go. He thought he was just about to make it! At that point he decided it was time to be the entrepreneur he knew he could be. He felt like something was missing after he launched a few companies and that is when Dedication to Community was born in 2012. D2C delivers skills-building workshops and ongoing forums to improve understanding and build relationships in communities through healing, reconciliation and unity. Its experts work with government agencies and the private sector by training and advising on critical issues in public safety and law enforcement, as well as diversity, belonging and equity.
He is the proud father of a son and daughter, and credits his first-born as the inspiration for writing the survival guide, How NOT to get KILLED by the POLICE. This is a very important part of the interview!
Listen at 45 minutes about a story that Q shares. By hearing Q share his story it gave someone in the audience permission to share hers. Connecting helps us all to grow.
Take a listen to what Q has to say to, if I knew than what I know now. Please click Dedication to Community for more information about D2C. Thank you to M Quentin Williams for sharing his heart, light, and the amazing work he is doing to ensure that law enforcement and our community members are communicating better.
Thank you to Scott for joining me again as my special guest Co-Host. To learn more about Scott Chesney and his incredible work click - Scott Chesney.
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Next week I welcome my guest Emily Joof, Author - Mbifebooks & Global Education Advisor, Save the Children - Sweden.
Have a great week everyone!