Kristen Williams

Kristen Williams

She/Her/Hers

Play Cousins Collective Executive Director

An inclusive leader in the field of family and community wellness committed to empowering Black women and families.

Kristen Williams is a homeschooling mother of two sons. She is raising them with her husband Agyei Williams and the village. She serves as a community organizer, village Auntie, playful soul and the Play Cousins Collective Executive Director.Kristen is a descendant of Chris and Nancy Lawrence and grew up near JTown on an allBlack street and old Baptist church, across from a strawberry farm in the late 80s and 90s.Her people come from Murfreesboro Tennessee, West Africa, Panama and Germany.As a child Kristen enjoyed camping, playing hide and seek and climbing trees. As an adult you can find her playing in West Louisville’s historic parks with her children or bird watching in her backyard.Her passion for affirming Black children and connecting to the greatness and resources found in her community and culture led her to found Play Cousins Collective with like minded parents and extended kin in 2017. That year she received the Molly Leonard Community Service award from Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton. The next year Play Cousins Collective received Collaborative Community Partner Award from the Center for Neighborhoods. In 2021 Kristen was awarded by the Black Panther Party as an Outstanding Educator.You can find Kristen in the village coming up with big ideas and convincing people to join in or leading games and crafts with her little Play Cousins. Her leadership and big ideas make her one of the many pillars in Black Louisville, holding up a grand vision of our community while anchored in the wealth and wisdom of our past.