Meet Jennifer Williams | Author & Mental Health First Aid Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what makes you happy? Why?
Helping people makes me happy. Amongst many other things like dancing, singing, and writing, nothing makes my heart more happier than being a help to someone else. If for nothing, I believe it gives people hope that they can make it to tomorrow.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Professionally I work in Corporate America assisting my firm in the Human Capital Management division. I am on the Learning and Engagement team, so I am aligned with my love for helping people. In addition to my full time career, I am a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. I teach people the signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance abuse, and how to aid in moments of crisis. I love teaching this information because so many people are misinformed about what mental illness is, what it looks like, and how to assist. I am most proud when conducting a training and hearing the stories of people who have recovered from trauma or those who now have knowledge and understanding about mental and behavioral illness. I’m also an author, so in my leisure time I write and create art. I published my first book, Why Wear White; Journey to Me in December 2020, and since then have been working on my next.

By no means has this been an easy road. Career wise I spent six years of working in healthcare knowing I never wanted to be there, but with the experiences I gained, I realized where I wanted to be and was intentional in my job seeking until I got there. All while pursuing my love for creativity and writing. I spent five years trying to write and publish my book and six years building my brand. Even now, I am faced with challenges. There’s always a stumbling block to stop greatness and discourage one from becoming. I think the most frustrating part of this process was formatting the book. Making sure the pages were aligned and measured properly, having the right files and compatibility for the programs I was using, it was driving me insane. I was trying to do it all on my own, having never done it before and I was so over it. I became satisfied with the fact that I had written a book and if it never was published or released at least I got it out of my head. Thank God that thought didn’t last long, I was too close to the end to give up. I reached out to some people and found a production company that helped me publish my book and bring my vision to life. In each process, I learned that I maybe the visionary or have a dream, but sometimes I may need others to help me execute it.

What sets me apart from others in all of these roles is the empathy I have to connect with others, making their experience feel validated and acknowledged. Whether I am assisting on a program, providing resources and information to my community or sharing my life experiences through art form. All of these methods allow me to leave people with hope and tools to move forward.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Best Cuban food – Havana Central, Times Square, NYC

Shopping/Amusement – American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ

Best Breakfast Spot – Rutherford Pancake House, Rutherford, NJ

Best margaritas ever – Clifton City Tavern Mexican Cantina, Clifton, NJ

Best Barbecue – All The Smoke Barbecue, Clifton, NJ

Best Brunch Spot – The Love of Grub, Clifton, NJ

Site seeing – Paterson Waterfalls, Paterson, NJ

Best Wings ever – Sharky’s Wings and Bar (East), Clifton, NJ

Happy Hour,/Night life – The Hive Bar and Bistro, Garfield, NJ

City Dinning – City Bistro, Hoboken, NJ

American Dinning – Fire and Oak, Jersey City, NJ

Outdoor dinning on the waterfront – Surf City, Jersey City, NJ

Dinner on the waterfront – Liberty House, Jersey City, NJ

Relaxation/Self-Care – SoJo Spa, Edgewater, NJ

Night life/bar and dancing – Pier 115, Edgewater, NJ

Great Mexican food and drinks – Viva Margarita, Edgewater, NJ

Dinner on the waterfront – The Yacht Club, Edgewater, NJ

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
None of what I have accomplished would be possible today without God and the help of my mentor and friend Jonathan Jackson, my mentor, preceptor and co-facilitator Tamara Brown, and lastly DBHIS (Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services) in my hometown, Philadelphia, Pa. Also, my family and friends who have always supported and encouraged me to share my gifts with the world. To never dull my light for anyone, but instead to leave the door open as I overcome obstacles and blaze the trail for others. This organization and these people have helped me become the woman that I am today, bold, fearless and unapologetically me.

Website: www.fromjwithlove.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromjwithlove/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-williams-3214a98a

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FromJWithLove_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FromJWLove

Image Credits
Marissa Saslowsky @portraitsbyriss Taylor LaTorre @taylormarie_photography.jpg Okwa Andrew Amalemba @rawimagesolutions