This Mover & Shaker has a passion for education and positive change. Driven by the inspiration to get involved, make positive change and to have all voices heard, she is making it happen. Her nominator told us she has always stayed true to who she is and put the “people” of Delaware first. We are honored and humbled to spotlight this Wilmington resident and Delaware State Representative, Kim Williams, as a Top 10 North Delaware Mover & Shaker of 2015.

A member of the House of Representatives, Delaware, 19th, Democratic; Member of the Committee to Advance Educator Compensation; Co-chair of the Enrollment PreferenceTask Force; Served as a Member of the Animal WelfareTask Force; Member of the Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium and Member of the Center for Disabilities Studies Community Advisory Council to mention a few, and above all wife, mother, friend — Kim Williams is one of the most positive Movers & Shakers we’ve been honored to recognize. Kim tributes her success to those have been with her through the beginning and those whom she meets on a daily basis.

Q&A with Kim Williams

NDH: The person who nominated you gave us 3 reasons why you should be nominated as a Mover & Shaker. Now we would like to hear it from you. Tell us 3 reasons why you are a Mover & Shaker.

KIM: I have a drive and determination to work within the community in order to improve issues facing Delawareans. Listening to their concerns and having their concerns heard. No matter what position I hold, I feel that the fact I have remained who I am when I started has been instrumental in keeping me grounded and allowing me to be a voice for those who sometimes feel their voices are not heard. No one person can make effective change without the support of the community and I have continued to maintain and build those important relationships.

NDH: For which achievements are you most proud?

KIM: Public office was not my intention or desire—my path started with my involvement in my children’s school, volunteering in the classroom and being active in the PTA. I realized early on that in order to make changes, you first have to educate people on the issues and come together to have their voices heard. Communication is a key to making this happen.

Three awards that I received last year that I am extremely proud of.

Named 2015 Delaware State Education Association Legislative Friend of Education
One of the recipients of the 2015 Progressive Democrats Delaware Bob Stachnik Progress Courage Award
Named 2015 Delaware Americans for Democratic Action Hero

NDH: Can you share how your involvement has impacted an individual or the North Delaware community?

KIM: My involvement began only encompassing my child’s classroom. Now, that involvement has grown to represent all children in Delaware as Vice Chair of the House of Education Committee.

Brandywine Springs PFAD1 2015 Kim Williams

NDH: Movers & Shakers are visionaries. What projects are you working on for future achievement?

KIM: Continuing to make the Department of Education accountable for their budget which is roughly a third of the entire State of Delaware’s budget. By writing bills to improve the quality of education and making people accountable for what happens with our taxpayers’ dollars.

NDH: Have you faced any serious challenges along the way that you would like to share?

KIM: There are special interest groups that do not have the best interest of Delaware taxpayers in mind and they wield power and can exert a lot of pressure to maintain the status quo. It is difficult to enact change when there are so many conflicting forces coming at you.

NDH: What local organizations, events or clubs are you currently involved with?

KIM:

Vice Chair of the House Education Committee
Member of the House – Housing and Community Affairs, Labor, Telecommunication Internet & Technology and Veterans Affairs Committees
Member of the Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium
Member of the Center for Disabilities Studies Community Advisory Council
Member of the Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission
Member of Conrad Schools of Science Building Leadership Team
Member of the Committee to Advance Educator Compensation Committee
Enrollment Preferences Task Force – Co-Chair
Member of the 19^th RD – Delaware Democratic Party
Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

NDH: What attracted you to these organizations?

KIM: My involvement in these groups gives me access to more perspectives on issues.

NDH: Who or what inspired you to get involved in those organizations?

KIM: My inspiration to get involved was my passion to make positive change and to have all voices heard.

NDH: Do you have a mentor?

KIM: I would say my mentors are the people who have been with me through the beginning and whom I am meeting on a daily basis. These are the people who are involved with the issues, have the same passion for positive change that I have, and that want to work together to make these changes happen. I feel that the knowledge and support that I gain from these people is invaluable when it comes to finding solutions and creating a consensus to being able to create effective legislation.

NDH: Is there anything else that North Delaware should know about YOU?

KIM: My husband and I have been life-long residents of New Castle County with both our families residing in the City of Wilmington at one time. I have a history with the City of Wilmington and surrounding communities from working at Mrs. Robino’s Restaurant as a server and working for an electrical contractor in North Delaware. I attended Wilmington High School which is now Cab Calloway School of the Arts.

NDH: What’s your favorite North Delaware event?

KIM: One of my favorite North Delaware events is Brandywine Festival of the Arts. It is an event that my family has attended since our children were young. It is just a nice family event that you can spend the day shopping, eating and running into old friends.

NDH: What’s your go-to spot for dinner or night life?

KIM: Mrs. Robino’s Restaurant on Union Street—best chopped antipasto’s in Delaware.

NDH: How do you feel about being named as a Nominee of Movers & Shakers in North Delaware?

KIM: I am honored and humbled that NorthDelaWHEREHappening is recognizing me as a Mover and Shaker. By being named a Mover and Shaker, it tells me that the work I have been doing is being recognized and plays an important part in positive changes to the State of Delaware. I want to congratulate you on continued success with your digital magazine and being a great source of information to our community. (THANKS KIM!!)

NDH: Other details you want to share?

KIM: I would like to thank my husband, Carl and my two children, Casey and CJ, for their love and support; I could not have accomplished all of these things without them encouraging me. Also, I want to thank all my family and friends who continue to inspire and support me every day.

One of ways that I keep my constituents and surrounding communities updated is with my blog called DelawareFirstState.com. I write about important issues, upcoming bills being introduced or events that I have attended. I think it is extremely important for the people you are working for, to know what you are doing.

I think social media is a wonderful tool to use to keep people connected. I have a State Representative Facebook page www.facebook.com/KimWilliamsForStateRepresentative that I use to update my constituents on events happening in our state government and in the area. My husband and I are both realtors with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.

Stay Connected to Kim Williams

Thank You Kim Williams!

For all you do for our North Delaware communities and beyond. #lovelocal

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