Terrie Williams (born May 12, 1954) is an American public relations speaker, author, therapist, and philanthropist.[citation needed]
Early life
Williams was born to parents Charles and Marie.
Education
Williams, after completing her high school, continued her education at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts where she received a BA in Psychology and Sociology. She received an Alumni Achievement Award in 1988. Upon completion of her bachelor's degree, she went on to obtain a Master's of Science in Social Work at Columbia University.
Early career
Williams worked as a medical social worker at New York Hospital (now called Weill-Cornell Medical Center) counseling terminally ill and disabled patients. Later, she met and befriended jazz musician Miles Davis, who encouraged her to open her own business.
Her work in public relations has been referenced in textbooks, business guides, print editorials, social media, and pop culture. From its creation in 1988 to its closure in 2018, the public relations firm provided many services on a pro bono basis to under-served communities.
Battle with depression
In 2003, Williams suffered from severe depression that impacted her public relations career. She publicly discussed this in a 2005 Essence magazine interview, emphasizing the stigma around mental health treatment in the African-American community. Transitioning into a mental health advocate, Williams spoke nationally to encourage open conversations on mental health issues. She wrote a book, Black Pain, in 2009 that is focused on mental health challenges in the black community.
Books
Williams has written four books; The Personal Touch: What You Really Need to Succeed in Today's Fast-paced Business World, Stay Strong: Simple Life Lessons for Teens, A Plentiful Harvest: Creating Balance and Harmony Through the Seven Living Virtues and Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting.
Philanthropy and activism
In 2005, Williams founded the Stay Strong Foundation (SSF)—now dissolved. SSF aimed to raise awareness of teen issues, promote the personal well-being of young people and enhance educational and professional development. The foundation encouraged corporate and individual responsibility, developed educational resources for youth and youth organizations, provided and coordinated internships, set up mentoring opportunities, and facilitated visits by prominent individuals and business professionals to schools, libraries, youth organizations, and group homes.
In March 2008, the Stay Strong Foundation launched the "Healing Starts With Us" campaign. In 2010 SSF collaborated with the Ad Council and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to introduce a campaign entitled "Share Ourselves: Healing Starts With Us." To date, the campaign has garnered $2.5 million in donated national advertising space and 11 million media impressions to significantly heighten awareness of the importance of mental and emotional health.
In October 2012, Williams was a featured speaker on mental health for World Mental Health Day.
Awards and honors
In 1991 Williams received the New York Women of Communications Matrix Award in the category of Public Relations
In 1996, Williams was the first person of color to be awarded the Vernon C. Schranz Distinguished Lectureship at Ball State University
2006 Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural & Minority Medicine's Eagle Fly Free Award
In 2009 NAMI/FAMILYA of Rockland County recognized Williams' extraordinary commitment to de-stigmatizing mental illness by giving her their Florence Gould Gross Award
2009 Dr. David Satcher Mental Health Trailblazer Award—Jackson State University (Southern Institute for Mental Health Advocacy, Research and Training)
2009 The Citizens Committee for New York City Marietta Tree Award for Public Service
