donald wILLIAMS II

Donald Williams II, a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army, is an accomplished leader who has served in many distinguished leadership roles. He is a product of a military family who traveled extensively as a family member and adult. He is tenaciously motivated and on the go; his service dedication knows no boundaries. He and his wife Mona have been happily married for 37 years and are the proud parents of two adult daughters, Deidra and Dreka. He and Mona are proud grandparents of a granddaughter and grandson, Kaidyn, and Kolten. He is a committed and caring family man concerned with the welfare of family and friends. He is affectionately known as "Colonel, Brother Williams, Coach Williams, and Brother Game Changer by many.

As Executive Director of Unity Christian Fellowship, Inc. (UCF), known in the community as Aim High Youth Organization, since 2006, he and his wife co-founded. Together, they committed themselves to a life of service and shaping the lives of countless young people. They have been blessed to assemble a strong circle of caring, like-minded, supportive adults to help youth navigate life's daily pitfalls.

UCF is a nonprofit, community-based youth development organization that promotes student success and "changes lives in the community one student at a time amongst at-promise youth" from vulnerable communities. UCF's positive youth development program centers on creating transformative experiences to inspire middle and high-school-age young people, especially young males, to become future leaders. UCF programs are structured to empower students to be accountable, improve their academic performance, and develop leadership skills in reaching new heights of success. For over 25 years, they proudly served African-Americans and students of color who are at-promise youth —mentoring and sometimes taking them into their homes.

UCF has been on the front lines laser-focused in teaming with parents, Montgomery County Maryland Public Schools (MCPS). This is truly a labor of love and a collaboration model for building relationships with local churches, sororities, fraternities of the Divine Nine, and like-minded organizations to strengthen our community by working together to increase the success of Black and Brown students over the many years!

In the post-COVID era, the aim is to connect with new students and parents to help families navigate their students' academic journey, gain social-emotional confidence, and teach life skills and educational strategies that prepare them for their life journey. The outcome is for students to pursue a college degree in a meaningful career, join the military or federal service, or attain a certificate from vocational/trade schools so they can live independently and be productive contributors to our community.

As a former military officer and "army brat", that traveled to foreign countries worldwide where "community involvement" was a way of life. He is committed to community service through athletics; he has coached and taught basketball for over 25 years in several capacities, including Head Women's Basketball Coach at Morgan State University, Montgomery College, and Maryland Flames (AAU). He was a former Youth Sports Coaches Association member and National Junior College Athletic, where he earned Coach of the Year honors. He served for nearly a decade as Commissioner of the Christian Youth Basketball Ministry, endorsed by the 2nd Episcopal District of the Washington Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mona and Donald were blessed to raise our family at First A.M.E. Church in Washington Grove in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Mona and I served in many leadership positions for thirty years as faithful members. We were:

• Active church leaders

• Raising our two daughters

• Collaborating with other local churches

• Mentoring countless children who crossed our paths

Mona served as a Trustee and a lengthy term as Superintendent of Church School, raising the profile of First A.M.E. Church in the 2nd Episcopal District with a robust youth engagement program. Brother Williams served as a Steward, Commissioner for Youth, President of the Sons of Allen Men's Ministry, Sunday Teacher, and Choir member, and the entire family enjoyed serving on the Usher Board, YPD, and Church/Sunday School. The family was thoroughly immersed in developing our spiritual walk with the Lord. Sister Mona is a proud member of the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Brother Williams is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., initiated in the 6th District, and servant leader of the 2nd District. It was a privilege and honor of a lifetime to serve as the 25th Basileus while serving as the 2nd District Chairman for the Fatherhood Initiative and Mentoring Committee and a member of the fraternity's International Committee, which has 750 chapters worldwide since 2014.

God saw fit to use him as a worthy servant leader in positions that ignited his passion for next-level community engagement. He is grateful to the brotherhood for allowing him to serve in his passion to promote Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.'s precepts during the past decade. He was recognized twice as Committee Chairman of the Year in 2023 and 2017 for igniting and inspiring the brotherhood to operate in a significant, purposeful, and meaningful way to strengthen families and impact the lives of young people, especially young males.

It was a blessing to assemble and work with compassionate, like-minded men to achieve the vision of collective impact in communities across five states: New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Approximately 80 Chapters were encouraged to engage their community by establishing mentoring programs to help young people reach their full potential. In addition, celebrating and raising awareness of the father's role and helping adult men "help their children grow and glow into healthy young adults" result in stronger families, invested communities, and a better world.

In October 2017, he was elected the 25th Basileus of Mu Nu Chapter (2017-2019). During the same time, his wife Mona served as the 17th President of the Montgomery County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. We provided leadership simultaneously in one of the most affluent counties in America.

Brother Williams received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and an M.B.A. from Golden Gate University, California. He served for 20 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. His professional career includes serving in the public and private sectors at Morgan State University as a senior executive, in the private sector for an 8(A) Government Contractor as the Chief Financial Officer for Interior Systems, Inc., Washington, D.C., that gross more than $9 million annually over four years. He enjoyed working as a financial management officer on a team of professionals at the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Division. He retired as a public servant in the federal government and a senior budget analyst at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville, Maryland.

UCF is Committed to Transforming Young People's Lives! We welcome your help sustaining the growth and development and reaching more students. I encourage you to join our home team by being a blessing and sow into UCF financially: go to the Pay Pal Tab on our website, www.ucfinc.org, Cash App ($UCFIncYouthOrg), or mail a check (Payable to UCF) to 20203 Goshen Road, #104, Gaithersburg, MD 20879.

Family, let me say that "there is no better investment than our young people, and if ever there was a time to work together, it is now to help make hope happen in our vulnerable community. We cannot thank you enough for your continuous support of UCF efforts to impact families and students living in our community. We are stronger working together!

Please visit our website for ongoing activities and upcoming events. You can contact us anytime at www.ucfinc.org or unity.christian.felowship2006@gmail.com. We seek corporate sponsorship, professional sports sponsorship, individual sponsorship, and like-minded strategic partnerships that help UCF work directly with young people.