Amy Williams

Background

About Amy Williams

A 30-year youth ministry veteran, AMY L. WILLIAMS follows her passion to minister to teens involved in gangs, youth on probation/parole and those lost in the criminal justice system – at the core of which life-on-life mentoring is her key strategy. As a certified Gang Intervention Specialist, her journey of youth ministry continued as she heard God’s call to move into a Latino gang neighborhood in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community to be a “Hope Dealer to the dope dealer," doing street outreach and walking life with young people on her block. ​ Amy is currently the Project Coordinator for the Illinois Youth Center (IYC) for New Life Centers Chicagoland. Her role coordinates and brings restorative justice programming and peace circles into the St Charles, Warrenville and Chicago juvenile prisons. She also organized and lead the first North Park Seminary Juvenile Justice Co-hort for leaders working with youth in the criminal justice system. Her areas of expertise and passion include: Youth and Young Adults ​Gang Intervention and Strategies Juvenile Justice Mass Incarceration School to Prison Pipeline Community Developement Mentoring (youth and youth workers) Youth Culture She formerly serves/ed as a(n)-Advisory Board Member for the National Institute for Juvenile Justice Ministries (IJJM)-​Restorative Justice Committee for Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ)-E.C.H.O Project (Elevating Church Outreach) Advisory Team -Steering committee member for the CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) Mass Incarceration Task Force -Advisory Board Member for the North Park University​Center for Youth Ministries Studies (CYMS) Amy has been blessed to speak and train for many organizations including (not limited to)-DeVos Urban Leadership alumni and trainer (currently)-Urban Youth Workers Institute trainer (formerly)-Youth Specialties National Team Trainer (formerly)-National CCDA Trainer (formerly) ​ She released her 1st book in June 2025 with InterVarsity Press, WORTH SEEING: Viewing Others Through God's Eyes. ​Amy mentors other leaders across the country sharing her passion to reach as many youth with the message of HOPE. ​ To book her for your event, visit