1 POSTS
As The Mind Trust’s Executive Vice President, Shannon Williams leads the organization’s communications, community engagement and development teams in addition to serving as a strategic partner to the CEO. Since joining The Mind Trust in 2018, Shannon has been instrumental in expanding the organization’s brand and partnerships, establishing strong relationships with the grassroots community, and working with key groups of civic and community leaders to build understanding about the organization’s work. She has also launched initiatives that diversified the organization’s revenue streams. In addition, Shannon is also responsible for developing a fellowship that resulted in the incubation of EmpowerED Families, a parent-led advocacy organization.
Throughout the course of her career, Shannon has received numerous local and national awards and is known for her strong and distinctive writing style, her advocacy efforts, and her strategic thinking. For nearly 20 years, Shannon served in various leadership capacities in the media industry, including being president of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, a highly-respected 127-year-old African-American-owned publication. Shannon also served as president of the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, the state’s only publication with content specific to the interests of all minorities. Her other leadership roles included vice president, editor, and marketing manager.
Working with and advocating for the community has always been Shannon’s passion. It’s a devotion she inherited from her mother, who instilled in her the importance of bold, courageous leadership that helps the most marginalized amongst us. Shannon has thus dedicated her life to the community and takes particular interest in causes focused on women, children, education, and criminal justice reform. Shannon has served on the boards of Black Leaders + Legacies, Crossroads of America (Boys Scouts of Central Indiana), The Oaks Academy, EmpowerED Families, Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation Board, IUPUI University Library Board, Edna Martin Christian Center, Indiana Sports Corp – President’s Council, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association board. Shannon also made history by being the first African-American to serve on the Hoosier State Press Association board.
Shannon is a graduate of Jackson State University and the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Program. She is currently pursuing an Executive Leadership Certificate from Harvard University. Shannon is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the Circle City Chapter of The Links Inc. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their 6-year-old son.
