William Kellibrew IV is an international motivational speaker on civil, human, women, children and victims’ rights. William has inspired and empowered many through his work, artistic talent, powerful presentations and is tied passionately and uniquely to his ‘calling’. At age 6, he was violently raped by his mom’s neighbor and at age 10, he watched helplessly as his mother and twelve year old brother were shot in their living room by his mother’s ex-boyfriend. The killer took his own life, but not before he had William beg for his life at gun point. The next day, William witnessed his grandfather shoot the next door neighbor. Witnessing two shootings in two days traumatized him for years.

Many who have had the opportunity to hear him speak and work with him closely, consider William a “miracle”. Featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show with Dr. William Cosby and Dr. Alvin Poussaint, William’s story has been heard in over 120 countries. However, the pathway to recovery had many barriers. At age thirteen, William attempted suicide and was hospitalised more than nine times to grapple with his trauma and clinical depression. William often turned to violence, drugs, alcohol and unhealthy relationships as symptoms of his traumatic experience. He spent many of his teenage years running away, homeless and wondering the streets in a life of despair.

Over twenty years of rebuilding, William decided that education was the pathway to a viable career and an entrepreneurial future and enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) as a non-traditional student where he flourished and is currently completing his degree in business administration with a concentration in management. William not only thrives on campus, he has become a beacon for others in their pursuit for education.

In 2010, William was the keynote speaker for the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Candlelight Observance and featured in the 2010 Theme Video Fairness Dignity and Respect and in 2011, was the keynote speaker for the Office on Violence Against Women Domestic Violence Awareness Event. For working diligently in his local community of Washington, D.C. and throughout the country, in October 2011, during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, William was recognized by the White House as a ‘Champion of Change’ working to end domestic violence and sexual assault and has blogged for the White House. William currently consults for SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Center for Trauma-Informed Care, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center and serves as Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at Mauldin Brand Agency based in Atlanta.

William has been featured on MSNBC, CNN In Session, CNN HLN Newsmakers with Robert Traynum, BBC Worldwide, Washington Post, Sunderland Echo, in Open Society Institute’s Leadership and Sustainability Institute and countless articles, news media outlets and publications throughout the world. He enjoys tennis, singing, reading, travelling and credits his grandmother and others for helping to save his life.