Today we’d like to introduce you to Beanca Williams.
Hi Beanca, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a native New Orleanian, I am a graduate of the University of New Orleans with a degree in Sociology and certification in Social Work. I always wanted to work with and help people, especially children. When I graduated from college, I got a job working as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) in a group home for kids who were medically fragile with disabilities. I loved working hands on with the kids and was able to tap into my care and compassion for such a vulnerable population. Working with individuals with disabilities was not my field of choice but after about a year of working with Volunteers of America New Orleans, I was promoted to Program Coordinator and thus have been in leadership, management and advocacy roles in the field since 1990. I worked with Volunteers of America New Orleans for many years and then went on to work as the Administrator for Catholic Charities in New Orleans serving up to 100 individuals with disabilities in group home and in the Greater New Orleans community. My tenure with Catholic Charities abruptly ended after Hurricane Katrina. I moved to Fort Bend County near family where my husband and I settled to raise our three sons. After nearly a year of staying home to support my family through a difficult crisis, I decided to continue my work of service to vulnerable populations. I began working with Volunteers of America Texas in July, 2006. My roles here have changed over the years. I am currently the Houston Regional Director of our Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities program and the lead minister for the Texas affiliate. As an expertise in the field of IDD, I sit on several committees and advocate across the country for individuals with disabilities and those who support them to ensure they get the services they need in the environments they choose. As adequate funding is important, I enjoy educating lawmakers on the needs and the strengths of individuals with disabilities. I currently direct a multi-million dollar grant to assist individuals with disabilities reach their employment goals and expand their technological skills. It is important that individuals with seen and unseen disabilities have opportunities to reach for their goals of where they want to live, work and serve. It is my heartfelt desire to continue to expand services, ideas and funding for individuals with disabilities to help them on their journey. I am a natural leader and was selected to be a Key Maker in Volunteers of America’s premier Leadership program for leaders across the country. As the ministry leader for Volunteers of America Texas, I am blessed to lead a ministry of support to seniors and those with disabilities in our housing program and for four years, I have coordinated our weekly prayer calls for staff and clients. I also work as a leader with other programs outside my place of employment having graduated from Lakewood Church Leadership program. I also am an advisor on the Houston Christian University Women in Leadership advisor committee. As a leader, I continue on a journey of growth and reflection but never far from my original desire-helping people.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Working with and advocating for individuals with disabilities has always been challenging. Navigating disabilities, family dynamics, funding and service have been obstacles I have had to manage over the years. I would say fighting for adequate funding and awareness have been the hardest. Even though many people in this generation know of someone with a disability in their family, church, school, work, etc. there is still the stigma we must fight. This is why I meet with state and federal representatives yearly to educate them. Their lack of knowledge hinders funding programs that benefit individuals with disabilities. Sometimes the education/advocacy works and sometimes it doesn’t. For instance, for the last legislative session, we advocated for increased funding for staff that support individuals with disabilities to sustain the workforce. Our advocacy was for at least $15 and hour for staff. I was even a part a local press conference bringing awareness. However, when the session ended, the increase was only to $13. Even though it was a disappointment, it was a step in the right direction.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work and advocate for individuals with disabilities. I specialize in Disability services and have expanded the work that I do to work with individuals with both seen and unseen disabilities. As the population of individuals with autism has grown, it is sometimes hard to distinguish who has a disability. In addition, those who need support, rarely want to share due to the stigma. My years of experience has indeed set me apart but so has my compassion and advocacy. As I educate people, I have a way of humanizing those who are sometimes dehumanized. I am not afraid to speak up. Recently, my leadership has been in finding employment for individuals with disabilities on a spectrum. This includes working with someone who is taking college courses to someone who is hearing impaired to someone who has an IQ below 70. Each of these individuals when giving an opportunity can work. This includes teaching them technology so they can be marketable in the workforce just as anyone else. I am so proud to lead a program that is doing such. I believe our data will lead to changes that impact people with disabilities for generations.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
That my leadership expands outside of work. I am known for my faith, but people rarely know that I volunteer working with kids teaching them biblical principles, I am a leader and mentor of the Leadership program at my church, and I mentor groups of women to help them experience freedom from drugs and other additions. I also help with disasters and have traveled as far Puerto Rico to assist. As we live in a region that is prone to disasters and hurricanes, I want to expand my leadership in helping mobilize people to assist in disaster in a proactive way that is most efficient.
