As we celebrate the class of 2025, we also want to recognize those former graduates of Communities In Schools (CIS) that are giving back to the graduates of today.

One of those is Charlie Williams, an author and motivational speaker who got his start in CIS after moving to Rocky Mount when he was in middle school. One of his teachers recommended him for the program.  “She actually presented how the program will benefit me and how I am as a person,” Williams said. “Growing up in the city and coming down to the South… I needed a community to bring me to bring me to that point where I need to be intentional about my steps”

Williams stayed with CIS through middle and high school where he was wrapped in community support and given him role models to look up to. The youngest of seven in his family, he was the first to graduate high school and go to college. CIS was with him all along the way. “CIS gave that to me, letting me know what’s possible other than just being an athlete or being somewhere else. It was like, yeah, you can be an engineer. You can be a doctor, you can embrace entrepreneurship… it’s all about who you know, who you’re around.”

The support from CIS helped Williams through the application process for college, walking him through every step of the way and giving him the knowledge of how many more paths were open to him. “Because before that, when I got to high school, I didn’t have any knowledge about HBCUs or none of that? It was just like, NC State or Maryland University, or Notre Dame, you know big schools.” Williams enrolled in Fayetteville State University with a scholarship right out of high school.

Now Williams has gone from the mentee to the mentor, leading by example and giving students who are where he once was a look at what they can become. He shares his story and the lessons he learned with others. “Communication solves a lot of things,” he said. Williams’ desire to learn and network has helped him, and will help others as well. “I respect all people because it’s like you never know what knowledge, wisdom and understanding you can get from all types of people you know.”

To this year’s graduates, Williams offered these words of wisdom as they step into the wider world. “Find your authentic self. Don’t try to be someone else… Now you have a chance to create yourself, recreate yourself, as the person that you want to be.”