Our Founders
Take Heart, Inc. was founded by Michael Williams with the aid and support of Ellen Williams, who has become his wife over the years the organization has been serving the community. Each of our founders has a quote about the impact of our work. Their bios follow.
Michael on Take Heart: “Take Heart is my passion because it has given me the chance to leave the door open for those coming behind me to create opportunities in the face of prejudice against us. It allows me to work with youth who are traveling the same path I’ve walked, and to change their life trajectory.”
Ellen on Take Heart: “Take Heart has allowed me to combine my experience with incarcerated individuals who have so much to give to society in general and to youth in particular but have not had an avenue to do so and my work with youth who have gotten in trouble and thus limited their choices in life. Take Heart brings new choices and new lives for the youth who are mentored and the adults who mentor them.”
Founder & President
Michael Williams
Michael Williams is one of our Take Heart founders, serving as President/CEO of the organization, and also overseeing recruitment and engagement of mentors. Williams is a Restorative Justice practitioner; he is an experienced Circle keeper, is trained in Repair of Harm, and serves the restorative justice community in multiple ways. He is certified in mental health first aid and nonviolent crisis intervention. Michael is the Recovery Coordinator at Paramount School of Excellence, a charter school in South Bend, where he works with students to overcome behaviors that may interfere with their best learning experience. Williams holds a degree in Business from Holy Cross College and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as well as the National Society for Leadership and Success. Michael is an Elkhart, IN native, currently residing in South Bend with his wife, Ellen. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys basketball and football games whenever his busy schedule permits.
Co-Founder & Secretary and Treasurer
Ellen Williams, J.D.
Ellen Williams, one of our Take Heart co-founders, is a restorative justice practitioner, Circle keeper, and trainer for well over a decade. Williams attended undergrad at Ohio University and received her J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law. A former family law attorney, Williams turned to social service administration and higher education, finding a fit in the restorative justice framework that brings her work to many. She has also worked with conflict resolution education, serving incarcerated youth and adults, and with community conversations, as well as previously teaching and directing social programming at the University of Notre Dame. Williams is currently the Executive Director of the Elkhart Education Foundation. Ellen grew up in Florida, but currently resides in South Bend with her husband, Michael, and daughter, Destiny. In her free time, Williams enjoys cooking, taking road trips, reading, and tapping into many creative outlets.