Meet Yuri Williams of AFutureSuperhero And Friends in South Central

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuri Williams.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Yuri. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Yuri Omar Shariff Williams named after the famous actor Omar Sharif. I have never seen the movie Doctor Zhivago but I always wanted to be an actor. I was born and raised in South Central L.A. the home of a lot of good people. Growing up, we lived in great community surround by the good and the evil. I say this because I was taught so many things that I can look back and say I have seen both sides of the fence. Back then, my dream was to become a redsoxs baseball player than it switched to becoming a Los Angeles Laker after my aunt introduced me to Magic Johnson. From the day I was born, my mother stayed on me everyday from birth until June 2nd @ 4:45pm when I told her she could leave me after her eight-year battle with cancer. This was the day she died and I died with her. My mother was and still is everything to me to this day. I always wanted to be like her minus the make up and high heels, she always told me to make sure your shoes are clean and you look nice when you step out because you represent me. That and a lot of her has stuck with me every single day. I will be honest losing her was more scarier than the day I got robbed at gunpoint.

After she passed, it hit me everyday for five years straight. I could talk to people in public but when I got home by myself I lost it. For five years, I hide my emotions of that day of losing the #1 lady in my life. I ended up following her footsteps and joined the Probation department due to her taking me to work with her as a child. I got to see the job first hand and what she did was help those who were lost and mislead. I have 20+ years of experience as a Deputy Juvenile Correctional Officer II in a mental health unit. She went from Correctional Officer to Probation Officer and I had the honor of working by her side for three years. But when she left that dark tunnel swarmed on me and it took me a long time, but I finally made it towards the light. I remember when she passed, I had to think of a way to pay her back for what she had done to help those who were on probation and the community. So that Christmas year I went to the bank and took out three thousand dollars. I have never shared this with anyone but today I will. I drove around Christmas Eve and gave out cash to the homeless around South Central LA, downtown LA, Inglewood, Hawthorne, Carson, Torrance, Orange County,San Pedro and Long Beach. Where ever I saw a homeless person I made sure i blessed them. I got different dominations of bills and mixed them up and just drove around passing them out.

So when I pulled up one person might have received $20.00 and the next person may get $100.00. The feeling I received was like a superpower. Just to see the persons face light up after they received it just gave me a glow of energy. I have always been a giver ever since my mom gave a homeless person $20.00. I never understood what homeless was until that day at 8yrs old and it stuck with me. I always helped those in need so I began helping every homeless person I saw. I have been giving way more since my mother passed in 2009. I used my own money to start helping the homeless I made sandwiches and gave water. I wanted to do more and I didn’t want to stop so that’s when decided I need to look into nonprofit. I am now the founder of AFutureSuperhero And Friends 501(c)3.

Where our focus is visiting ill children at home & hospitals, veterans, elderly, feeding  the homeless and underserved, backpack drives, movie nights, blood drives even feeding the animals with no homes. I was even blessed enough to take a month and half off to drive thru all 48 states and bless as many people as I could this past October in what i called a 50 states blessing tour. I didn’t get to Hawaii and Alaska due to running out of funds. Hopefully before 2019 ends i can visit my last two states and complete the tour. I forgot to add I do all this dressed as my favorite superhero Spider-Man. I know people pass out food to the homeless but I decide to wear the costume because it is not the norm. My mom always told me do it from the heart but do it your way so you can show love a different way. I ran with that and I’m sticking with it. I have eight years until retirement I pray I can retire early so my mission could be able to bandage the homeless crisis. I have a long way to go, I don’t do what I do for awards or fame. I do this to honor my mom and to pay back humanity for my extended time here on earth. Where I grew up a lot of my friends didn’t make it to their 18th birthday so I take all the souls who didn’t make it they will live thru me. It’s funny people don’t see the hidden finger 🤟🏽 symbol from spiderman which means love. But don’t worry everywhere my feet take me I spread that love and compassion to everyone in need.

Instagram – @afuturesuperhero
Facebook – @Yuri Williams or @AFUTURESUPERHERO AND FRIENDS
Twitter:@afuturesuprhero
Website: www.afuturesuperhero.org

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It hasn’t been a smooth ride at all. People say I make it look easy. But sometimes it’s hard convincing people to donate to a small nonprofit because we’re not that big. I try to show people what we do and some people help and some don’t. The hardest part is finding or getting approved for grants. I have been denied so much there are times I want to give up but I can’t and i wasn’t raised to give up. I have used a lot of my own money to make people’s day and I wouldn’t think twice about doing it. I know someone will see what I am doing and get others to join. I keep the faith I know something big will happen sooner than later.

Please tell us about AFutureSuperhero And Friends.
AFutureSuperhero And Friends is a nonprofit that is based off helping those in need and showing love and compassion. We specialize in feeding and clothing the homeless, visiting ill children/elderly, veterans, backpack drives, blood drives, purchasing movie nights for low income and special needs and more. We are proud of being a blessing to others. We might not be that big but we know what it take to build a relationships. I think what sets us apart from others is the costume and people knowing what we do and hearing people yell spiderman just makes me smile under the mask.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck but I do believe in 3 things.
#1 Give 💯 % in everything I do
#2 Trust the process
#3 Have Faith

Contact Info:

• Website: www.afuturesuperhero.org
• Phone: 562-999-1304
• Email: afuturesuperhero@gmail.com

Image Credit:
@afuturesuperheroandfriends

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