By: Richard Mendoza
When Jay Williams got started as the co-founder and executive director of OC United, he always maintained his belief of wanting to help the most vulnerable, or as he called it the “underdog”. Although the idea and conception of the organization began in 2012, the organization didn’t publicly launch until May 2015. Since then, Jay and his organization OC united have worked to help those dealing with homelessness, domestic abuse, foster care, addiction and more. “I think people would see me as an authentic person, who loves people and cares about them and does that from a place of, I guess gratefulness to God for just gifts that he’s given me. The mercy he showed me, I get to pass on to others,” said Williams.
Having worked as a pastor almost 30 years, Jay Williams, age 62, wanted to explore a way to try and impact the community he lived in. Jay’s story is that surrounded by his faith and belief in God. His love and admiration for Jesus Christ, and the God he believes in are what he believes gifted him the opportunity to provide help to those in need of it. Although he lives his life around his belief and love of God, he does not force that onto those he speaks to and those he works with and helps in the community he resides in.
Living in the city of Fullerton has allowed Williams to not only work as a pastor all these years, but to raise 4 kids of his own and then take on the responsibility of running a non-profit organization. According to Williams, the city of Fullerton have accepted the organization openly, which he attributes as great success to completing the organizations goals.
As he continues his endeavors in trying to help those in need, there are obstacles in his way. Williams and OC United aren’t a big organization. About 20 people work for the organization, and they become stretched thin when working with their afterschool programs. Despite this, Williams holds out hope that the “younger people of this generation feel inspired and want to take initiative in helping those who’ve been neglected in our communities.”
OC United is not a group that simply only accepts those that believe in God. Their work goes beyond that community, including providing after-school programs for students, which started in September of 2015. “We have a team (after-school) program where we work with kids that came from a lot of trauma. And so, we really come alongside and, in a trauma-informed way, caring for them and walking with them and helping them to thrive and to grow and work through the difficulties and the challenges they have,” said Williams.
In times of uncertainty, and in times of questioning faith and the importance of faith in one’s life, Jay Williams continues onward trying to show that it is his faith and belief that keeps him going. “I don't know exactly where it (beliefs and values) comes from. Some of those maybe modeled by my father or just about caring for other people and really it comes from my faith. Part of how I express my relationship with God is by loving my neighbor,” said Williams.
Those he works with, such as Amy Gaw, 46, and director of operations at OC United, share similar feelings about Jay’s character and the impact he has. “Jay has had a tremendous impact on our organization and my life personally. It’s his incredible heart to see justice for the marginalized and provide pathways for the flourishing of others that dictates everything we do at our organization. This passion of his is the heart of OC United,” said Gaw.
It isn’t just his impact on his organization that has made Jay Williams so appreciated by those he works with. Although he lives his life closely through his religion and church, Williams understands those affiliated with the church have used their position and their religion for horrible purposes. His life as a pastor has shaped him into a man that impacts the people he works with closely. “Jay has had tremendous impact on my life as well. He has shown me visibly what I know to be God's heart for people. Jay genuinely treats everyone with equal value and attention. It's pretty remarkable to see. We can have our Senator walk in our office or a person experiencing homelessness walk into our office and he treats them exactly the same with dignity, intentionality, and genuine care,” said Gaw.
(Written: November 2o22)
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