Ken Williams

I worked as a social worker for the homeless in Santa Barbara Ca. for over thirty years. During that time I won numerous awards for my work on their behalf:

*A.C.L.U. Civil Rights Hero Award, 2010.

*National Association of Social Workers California, Public Citizen of the Year Award 2010.

*Mental Health Association Award of Merit

*County of Santa Barbara Recognition Proclamation

*State Senate of California - Certificate of Recognition

*South Coast Coordinating Council Distinguished Service Award

*Service Employees International Union, 535 - Award of Merit

*National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse - Award of Merit

*Catholic Charities Individual Service - Award of Appreciation

*A.C.L.U. Distinguished Service Award

*California Legislative Assembly - Award of Merit

*The Independent’s Local Hero Award

*County of Santa Barbara Child Friendly Award

*Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Healthcare Hero-1998

* Certificate of Appreciation, Salvation Army, September 2003.

I have a wealth of experience working with the mentally ill, alcoholics/drug addicts, war veterans, the infirmed, neglected, survivors of sexual violence and, also the prejudices and fears of some and the incredible hearts of others who reached out to help the new lepers of our time.

Writing Credentials

Currently I am an author: writing novels and screenplays. I’m a columnist with noozhawk.com but all local news outlets including the Santa Barbara Independent and the News-Press have published my work. I have two published novels, as well as a nonfiction book, which is a collection of my articles interwoven with my autobiography.

“Ken Williams writes from the heart. He understands, with great clarity, that there is no more powerful form of commentary than to tell moving stories of human frailty and hope. Whether he writes from a wartime battle zone or chronicles the passing of forgotten brothers and sisters on the streets of the city, we are there with him, inspired by his compassion, his sense of justice and dignity, and his appeal to our collective humanity.” Steve Lopez, author of: The Soloist, columnist, L.A. Times.

FILMS

I play a prominent role in two documentaries on homelessness: Streets of Paradise and Shelter, co-produced by Brandon Birtell and Paul Walker---actor: The Fast and the Furious franchise.

I served in combat with the 9th Marines---The Walking Dead in Vietnam.