Board Feature: Amy Williams

I was excited to have the the opportunity to sit down with our newest board member, Amy Williams, to talk about why JOURNEYS' mission is so important in our suburban community. Take a look at what she had to say, and why she believes JOURNEYS | Lives Here is just as much about acknowledging the visibility of homelessness in suburban spaces as it about addressing homelessness as a community. 





"I’ve called Schaumburg home for 30 years. It’s really important to me to find an opportunity to give back in a positive way to the community, especially given the disruption from the pandemic. The work JOURNEYS does has a profound impact on so many people, and its work is something I really value. 

As a board member, I am excited to be able to leverage the knowledge I’ve acquired throughout my career to help contribute to JOURNEYS’ mission. I’ve been in communications and PR for 25 years, serving primarily healthcare and wellness. Regardless of the kind of work I’ve done, whether I'm trying to get people to buy something or to do something, storytelling is so critical. It’s all about getting people to believe in something.  

I believe that JOURNEYS’ mission is absolutely critical.  

I think all too often people hear of homelessness, and we think, “Oh, that's an inner-city problem. It's not in my community. We don't have that here.” For me, JOURNEYS | Lives Here is a reminder that homelessness can happen to anyone, and people at risk of being homeless can live anywhere. It’s a reminder that homelessness is an issue that touches every community. If for no other reason than that, it's up to the community to help address it, and everybody has an opportunity to play a role."
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Transcribed and arranged by Roxanne Gentry, Marketing Associate​

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