Uncrowned Community Builders

Lamont Williams is the Executive Director of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection and an expert on youth engagement. Lamont draws on his experience working in education, nonprofits, government, and entrepreneurship to promote a holistic perspective of community engagement for youth. For 6 years he served as the leading advocate for youth for the Buffalo Urban League; as the Coordinator of Education & Youth Programs. He led staff and developed programming designed to equip and empower low income, at risk youth ages 14 -21 to become self-sufficient by addressing the educational, economic, family and social challenges faced by the youth and their families.

Locally, Lamont has worked with over 1000 youth, focusing on youth engagement, academics, personal and social development, increasing high school graduation rates, facilitation into post-secondary education, job development, and community organizing, through a variety of speaking engagements, and professional development workshops. Lamont's experience working with youth on a National level involves serving on the National Urban League's Education & Youth Development team as a core member and organizer of their annual Youth Summit.

Separate Bachelor Degrees in Psychology, Communications, and African American Studies from the University of Buffalo, a 2012 Graduate of Leadership Buffalo and 25 years of successful entrepreneurship are just some of his accomplishments. Lamont is also a United States Navy Veteran, NYS Licensed Private Investigator, NRA Certified Firearms Instructor and an expert marksman.

Active in the community, Lamont is a speaker for the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County during their annual fund raising campaign and served as a focus group member to develop the research and performance measures for their Education Platform. He is also an active participant with Buffalo Promise Neighborhood and Read to Succeed.

Local board positions for Lamont include a founding member and Treasurer of the Buffalo Association of Black Journalist, the Road Less Traveled Theatre, Leadership Buffalo, Meals on Wheels of WNY, the Olmsted Center for Sight, and advisory board member for WNED-TV.

Lamont enjoys mentoring and working with young people in effort to achieve their academic and career goals. He especially enjoys encouraging youth with entrepreneurial aspirations.

When asked about his life, he says, "I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where positive role models were available to me and I learned early in life the value of having a mentor at home, in school and even in my neighborhood. My earliest mentors were my parents, teachers and my barber who owned the barbershop down the block from where I lived."

His life example teaches youth to never give up and to be flexible while maneuvering through life's obstacles in order to reach their dreams.
Lamont resides in Buffalo with his wife Alexandra and daughter Taylor.