Author & Philanthropist

Lisa C. Williams is an author, philanthropist, and torch-bearer. A sought-after orator, trainer, and listener, Ms. Williams has been called upon to share her message on national and international platforms— from the White House and the United Nations to Guam, Italy, Africa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lisa is the inaugural chair of the OSCE ODIHR International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC) and the recipient of multiple national and international awards and honors. She travels the world as founder and keynote speaker for The Centre for H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Excel) and hosts the podcast Front Porch Conversations.

Her keynote addresses and podcast conversations cover issues of the causal relationship between systemic social disparities and the consequential impact of trafficking and exploitation on children and communities; self-care for women; entrepreneurship education, training, and development for women veterans, non-veteran and nonprofit women leaders; building collaborative communities; and the healing power of conscious living.

Before becoming a renowned advocate for women and girls, Ms. Williams served her country as a commissioned officer in the United States Armed Forces. She had the distinction of serving in both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. After completing her military service with honor, Lisa founded Circle of Friends: Celebrating Life, Inc., in 1999, and dedicated the next 20 years of her time, energy, and resources to educating, equipping, and empowering girls and women to live their best lives, free of violence.

Under the auspices of Circle of Friends, she established Living Water for Women, Living Water for Girls, and the Living Water Learning Resource Center. Each program was opened as a beacon of hope and a continuum of care for child and women victims of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking. Lisa developed what the Federal Bureau of Investigation called “one of the most comprehensive, rehabilitative programs for child victims of sex trafficking in the country,” and over the years, helped to spare and reclaim the lives of more than 244 children, including 14 boys, and 705 young adult women.

Her best-selling book, Beautiful Layers: Stories from Those Who Survived the Life of Prostitution & Child Sexual Exploitation, is a tribute to victims whose lives were silenced by “the Life;” to survivors who walk among us unnamed, unheard, unseen, and unhealed; and to those fighting for the right to keep company with their own humanity- -to move beyond survival, to a place of hopeful living and impactful giving.

Lisa’s newly-released publication, Reshaped by Truth, is a unique offering for women of all backgrounds and life experiences. In this COVID-19 pandemic, every woman–from the stay-at-home mom to the cashier at the local grocery store to the survivor of a harrowing life experience to the social worker to the ER doctor to the CEO of her own company–deserves relief from the vicarious trauma of a ubiquitous disease, unrelenting caregiving, uncertain economics and the deaths of family and friends. Reshaped by Truth awakens you to the life-giving benefits of living intentionally– understanding of purpose, physical and mental wellbeing, and conscious giving.

Living intentionally is not about dreaming worries away, but about building a successful, healthy, philanthropic life based on a foundation of truth-telling. Lisa takes you on a transformational journey to the “you” you’ve been waiting for with her ABCs of living intentionally.

Uncomfortable Truth offers keen insight into the complex trauma experienced by sexually-exploited Black, Brown and Indigenous girls in the continental U.S. and documents the social and health disparities that create “victim vulnerability” and barriers to services and treatment for victims of color.  The book takes the reader on an academic exploration of the social constructs of race and gender in the U.S., victim response and treatment theory, prevention and intervention models, prosecutorial practices and survivor-leader advocacy.

Ms. Williams earned a Bachelor of Science from Campbell University, a Master of Arts from Bowie State University and attended a doctoral program at Virginia Technical College.

In response to the scarcity of resources and support available for mature veteran and non-veteran women business owners, Lisa C. Williams established The Centre for H.O.P.E.. Their mission is to provide professional and entrepreneurial education, training, and development for women and other underserved populations.