Keon Williams

Keon Williams is a native of Miami, Florida, born in the heart of one of Florida’s oldest Black communities called Historic Overtown. Mr. Williams has over 20 years of relevant experience in Non-profit Management, Business Development, Business Financing and Issues-based Advocacy. Mr. Williams currently serves as the CEO and President of Urban Gateways, a for-profit business enterprise and most recently served as the Assistant Director of Strategic Community Investments for Urban Philanthropies before transitioning to pursue his current ventures. Mr. Williams most impactful initiatives while at Urban Philanthropies includes navigating the organization through the successful startup of a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), to provide financial and technical assistance to small businesses and emerging nonprofits in South Florida’s urban communities; The Overtown Business Boot Camp, providing residents with startup capital and technical assistance to assist with creating a new business; and Co-Founded The Urban, a 58,000 square foot, open air venue, located in Historic Overtown that will features local food trucks and popup vendors in additional to custom designed shipping containers for a centralized bar, retailers and art installations.

Mr. Williams is the past Chairman of the Overtown Community Oversight Board, whose purpose is to encourage and support housing, job creation, economic and business development, educational opportunities, historic and cultural preservation, and to provide written recommendations to the City Commission regarding those activities. Mr. Williams credits the motto “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” as the bedrock of his dedication and commitment to advocating for disenfranchised communities.

Mr. Williams currently serves on the following community boards: Community Reinvestment Alliance of South Florida, Overtown Children & Youth Coalition, and The Equitable and Advocacy Collective.