We recently connected with Vernica Williams, MSW and have shared our conversation below.

Vernica , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

ReClaiming Your Voice began two years ago. As a believer of Jesus Christ, I heard God’s voice saying to me, ”Come out of your comfort zone.” Immediately, childhood insecurities flooded my mind so I asked, “How do I do that?” He said,” Get on camera.” “Come out of your comfort zone”, spoke directly to the childhood insecurity about my voice, the tone of my voice and my “accent.” Hearing “get on camera” confused and scared me. So, what I am supposed to do, show the world my insecurities, ugh! Lol.

However, that was the first part. The second part of this journey was as a 48-year-old woman I did not know who I was. People pleasing, co-dependency and lacking boundaries ruled my life. Shrinking psychologically around people and allowing fear to keep me from challenging and confrontational situations was my life.

Because of God and through the ministry of RYV, I have grown and healed from not liking the sound of my voice, being a people pleaser and more and I want that for all women!

ReClaiming Your Voice offers life coaching, written, video and audio content to encourage women to not only discover who they are through core values development (online course coming soon) but also to reclaim their voice in God!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Growing up I experienced some rough times. I was molested at two years old by my grandfather, rejected and abandoned by my father, grew up in poverty, lived in a loving household affected by a schizophrenia diagnosis, and bullied from the age of five to seventeen. Having low self-worth, living in survival mode and insecurities about my voice dictated how I showed up in the world.

I overcame homelessness, the pain of divorce, people pleasing, lacking boundaries, emotional abuse, and feeling shame for the choices I made. I had to figure out how to navigate relationships and live out the challenges that come with being a single mother of two children. By profession I am a social worker. I worked in the homeless population, mental health (families and children) as well as adults struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. After I resigned from a therapist job in 2020 to heal from burnout, I looked into starting a life coaching business. The business grew from only offering therapeutic coaching sessions to blog posts, hosting and producing an international podcast, a YouTube channel, speaking engagements, and becoming an author. In February of 2023, I written an e-book named Prayerful Affirmations: 21 Biblical Affirmations to Bring you Closer to God and Increase Your Faith.

What sets me apart from others in the field is my story combined with the healing work of personal core values that guides you to explore your core values, core needs, core behaviors, and discovering your core faith in Jesus.

I am most proud of my healing journey. It continues to show me no matter the trauma and anything else I will go through; this journey is not about me. I want women to know they don’t have to let the trials of life stop the purpose they are created to do. I started this business with none to very little income, but with a whole lot of faith and I will continue to encourage more women in the days to come.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

ReClaiming Your Voice started with no too little money. I continue to walk in faith to see the vision come to pass. RYV is in its humble beginnings therefore, we have not seen profit. 1/3 of earnings goes to monthly business expenses and the rest is used for the needs of my household, not including rent. There have been several times I was/I am late a few months with rent. Last year I was late nine months but I continued to believe in RYV. I continued to write the blog, upload the video, and pour into those connected to the ministry no matter what I felt or saw. I fully believe the miracles I experienced of someone paying off my car note and the nine-month late rent was paid off including three months in advance was because I persevered. ReClaiming Your Voice is branded in my heart, I will not give up on it!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I grew up on government assistance and standing in the “cheese line” with my mother. I did not have anyone to teach me or show me what life can be other than the cheese line. There was an invisible ceiling that was looming over the gifts I had for the world inside of me. Many people who identify as a part of the black and brown community has core beliefs that you can’t have a business and/or you can’t obtain opportunities that other communities of people have. That is a mental and psychological conditioning keeping us from doing great things! There are resources out here to be used to work toward your dreams (as I already shared) with little to no money. Too often we hold ourselves back because of narratives that belong to someone else and the narrative society wants us to believe. I had to unlearn core messages that caused me to think I can’t do great things. Does it take hard work, faith, pushing through obstacles, a lot of research and patience, yes. But It is NOT impossible!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reclaimingurvoice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimingyourvoice/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vernica.williams.391
• Youtube: https://bit.ly/ryvyoutube