Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuri Williams.
Hi Yuri, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is YuRi Omar Shariff Williams & I am born & raised in South Central L.A. during the era of gang banging. People always said I wouldn’t make it to 18, but I’m still standing here at 45. All my of life, I have proved people wrong. I was able to wiggle my way thru the neighborhood and become a role model for those who traveled similar upbringing. I owe majority of my life learning skills from my mother. My mother Lynda C. Hubbard was my real-life hero. As a kid growing up, I always wanted to be like Magic and play for the Lakers. But that dream didn’t happen so the next best hero to follow was my mother. It took me years to understand what she was trying to install into my brain but one day, I finally got it. She was leading me to my purpose in life, but I was ignoring and finally got it after her death. One day I asked if I could go to work with her, during these times kids were allowed to come inside the facility. My mom started as a Juvenile Correctional Officer inside LA county Probation and retired as Probation officer with 25 years of service.
So on this day, I got a chance to see my mom at work. Everyone who knew her will tell you she stood at 5’2 125 and didn’t take no ####. There was a young man banging and yelling from his cell. I stood up so I could see what my mother was going to do. She turned on the hallway light and began walking solo down the hallway to where the banging was coming from. As she approached the door she told the young man to stop yelling and banging on the door. The young man didn’t stop so she told her coworkers to pop the door. She yelled very loudly at the young man to step out his room. I began to get scared because this kid was about 6’4 250 looking down on her. I just knew he was going to knock her into next week, but this kid began crying and said I’m sorry Ms. Hubbard and her coworkers turned towards me and smiled. I was so shocked because I knew he wouldn’t bow down but that’s when I realized he had respect for her. Later she went back to check on him and during the conversation, they began laughing together. That’s when it hit me that they both had a bond and built respect for one another. After graduating from Dorsey High my second job, I was able to work with my hero. She taught me how to interview adult clients and help them get off probation. 22 years later, I followed in her footsteps and have been helping incarcerated juveniles that are housed in a mental health unit. I looked back one day and realized she was gearing me up to finding my purpose. I will never forget the day she called me and told me she had cancer and was hiding it from me for eight years. Her last year on earth, I remember taking her to appointments and she would always say be kind to others at every appointment. On June 3rd, 2009 at 4:45 I lost my best friend.
During my lifetime, I thought I was invincible and would never die. When she left, so did I and fell into a five-year depression period. I was able to hide it very long but one day I was laying in bed I said, “I can’t live like this”. Upon returning to work I got there early like she taught me. I could hear that voice saying “If your on time then your late, but if you get there early then your on time. This stuck with me and I try to never be late. So I’m sitting in the car and I call her like I always did to wake her up to get her day started. Phone just rang then her voicemail picked up. Thats when reality kicked in that she is no longer here and tears came running down my face like a waterfall. I called into work and told them I would be late. I sat there and tried to get myself back to normal. While I was sitting there, I created an Instagram account. I don’t know why but I did. The first person profile that popped up was Officer Tommy Norman. He is a police officer during the day but serves his community when he off duty. During this time, I was serving the houseless community around the LA area. Watching the videos just bright light to me because he was doing the same thing I was doing. So after watching a few videos, I added @tnorman23. Scrolling along Instagram, I found @hiphoptrooper who dresses up as a red storm trooper and cosplays. He caught my attention because I have loved starwars since I was a kid so I added him also. I got home that weekend and decided I was going to create a Gofundme for a costume and visit the houseless community & sick children.
A few months later, I was on Officer Normans page and saw a guy named @rodneysmithjr. He has traveled across the USA 12 times providing free lawn care to our elders, those who are disabled, single mothers and our veterans, who do not have the time, resources and/or money to take care of their yard. At the time, he was on a 50 States tour. I messaged him thru Instagram telling him when he made it to California, I wanted to link up. We met and I told him what he was doing was very inspiring and I wanted to join him on a 50 states tour. The year hit in 2017 and I had completed my first 50 states tour. This was it I found my purpose and that was helping people. My second tour was in 2018 and this past December 2021, I completed my third 50 states tour. On these tours, we served the houseless, veterans, seniors, animal shelters, ill children, special needs and those battling illnesses. I have been giving back since 2009 and created my nonprofit 𝐀𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 And Friends in 2017. We also have an Art Healing Healing program for kids/teens, Seniors and the Houseless community. We have served over 10,000+ people and don’t plan on stopping any time soon. My mother’s death was negative but I took what she taught me and turned it into something positive. Her legacy will live on thru me and I will continue to uplift humanity in her name. If you would like to follow our journey on Instagram: (@afuturesuperhero), Facebook: (Yuri Williams) or Twitter:(@afuturesuprhero).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey of life has been a roller coaster ride and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Losing my mother was probably the hardest thing I have ever had to accept it was a life-changing moment. Five years of depression was brutal and took and had my mind body on a tornado spin. I had to put my foot down and change my mind/body and it healed my soul. Running a nonprofit is not as easy as I make it look, you have to be dedicated to make it work. Afuturesuperhero And Friends is how I keep my mother’s name alive I know she would be proud.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Juvenile Probation Correctional Officer, supervising youth whom are incarcerated and have mental health issues. I have 20+ years of mental health experience from inside and also from interacting with those on the streets. I’m proud of my career because I followed my mother’s footsteps and doing what she loved and I love as well. What separates me from a lot of people I out in the work & I can relate to what a lot of people are going thru because I have been in that barrel and climbed out with lessons that have helped me become who I am today.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I recommend you look for someone who is doing what you like doing. Look thru their pages and see the work they are doing. If you feel like they are on a high level of what you love reach out and ask them questions. You to can reach the top but you have to put in the work. What has worked for me is finding people who share the same mission as you. Put in the work and don’t look back.
Pricing:
- 2000
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.AFutureSuperHero.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/afuturesuperhero?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yuri.williams.9041083
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/afuturesuprhero/status/1475252328194183171?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/YURO4000
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/suyTIcaZumb
Image Credits
Jaedyn Williams took photos
