Brey Williams
PROGRAM MANAGER, COMMUNITY EDUCATION (WHOLE Schools)
Breyana was born in Beaufort, SC, yet spent many of her formative years in Chicago, IL, where she first attended school in the basement of her Baptist Church. Her grandmother, an educator in the public school system teaching English, instilled in her an early love of reading and learning, a passion that carried her through the rest of her educational journey. As the firstborn of five, Breyana embraced the natural life-long challenge of being a role model, striving and evolving to inspire those around her to become the best version of themselves.
In 2021, she graduated from NC State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences, specializing in sociology and nutrition. It was during this time that Breyana recognized the profound intersection of social systems and health—the social determinants of health—and their impact on overall well-being. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant mental health challenges, leading Breyana to take a gap year. During this period, she worked as a Community Health Education Intern for the Interfaith Food Shuttle in Raleigh, helping develop and lead programming for children, families, and rural senior populations managing Type 2 Diabetes. More than that, Breyana learned to trust herself by honoring what she needed to be well and affirmed the importance of caring for one’s mental health and well-being.
Following her gap year, Breyana returned to academia to pursue her Master of Public Health in Health Behavior. She aimed to deepen her understanding of the drivers that impact health and health behavior, and how to leverage them to transform communities. Her own lived experiences fuel her passion for her work, and she is committed to honoring and uplifting the voices of those with lived experiences, ensuring they have a place at the table. Breyana is a dedicated advocate for health equity, using her role to create spaces of change where the next generation can thrive. Her journey is marked by a steadfast commitment to community, humility, and the transformative power of education and equity.