Henry Williams Foundation of Love

HWLF was born from its ancestors’ entrepreneurial spirit and wants to stand in the gap to support emerging and existing black businesses through an incubation program. Hence, they can transform into, and show up in the world as independent, viable businesses. This program will be a safe space for black innovators, artists, youth, and business people to ideate, learn, network, attend boot camps, and co-work in a welcoming environment.

Survivance is a digital space, a preservation of stories from the ALAANA* community in the greater Chicagoland area about living and surviving during the pandemic, one year later. Survivance is a joint effort with the Henry Williams Love Foundation (HWLF) and storytelling partner, The Pisces Life Podcast and Network.

Modge Podge Poetry is a makers workshop that guides teens on a personal literary journey that will manifest itself into a poem on canvas. The purpose of Modge Podge Poetry is to empower, provide introspection and creative expression, along with future goal forecasting all wrapped into an art project that teens can take home with them and serve as a reminder of their ambitions.

Eye Recite is a space dedicated to creative writers and reciters. The open mic series runs quarterly, but special Eye Recite Presents events are curated throughout the year.

A significant portion of our Emergency Services/Unplanned Loss/Advocacy Program funds are used to support families impacted by loss, illness, and death. For example, HWLF supplements health services payments and medications for the uninsured and underinsured. We also help to defray burial costs and provide hotel stays and supplies for families who are displaced for whatever reason (DV, Fire, Eviction, etc). It is vitally important that we continue to teach good healthy habits (food, exercise, stress reduction, mental health, and life insurance) to address the disparities that exist in our communities and family. HWLF uses its voice to give and shift power.