Charles Williams II

Charles Williams II is a doctoral candidate in Social Work and Sociology at the University of Michigan, where his research critically examines the role of the Black church in addressing health disparities, vaccine equity, social safety net access, and Black men’s mental health. His work is grounded in Du Boisian sociology and community-based participatory research (CBPR), bridging the academy and the Black faith tradition to develop culturally grounded and data-informed strategies for racial justice.

His scholarship is supported by major grants from the National Institutes of Health, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Henry Ford Health. He is the author or co-author of peer-reviewed articles in The American Journal of Ophthalmology, The Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, and Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, among others. His public commentary has been featured in HuffPost, CNN, MSNBC, and national newspapers.

Rev. Charles Williams II is a nationally recognized pastor, scholar, and social justice advocate who bridges the Black church, public policy, and public health to advance equity in underserved communities. Born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Rev. Williams embodies the grit of Midwest organizing and the grace of Southern values. For over two decades, he has led the fight for civil rights, workers’ rights, health equity, and social justice through faith-rooted organizing, public scholarship, and community-based research.

Rev. Williams began his activist journey as a student leader at Eastern Michigan University and quickly rose through the ranks of political and faith-based movements—organizing campaigns for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and Rev. Al Sharpton, and mentoring under civil rights icons such as Rev. Joseph Lowery, Dick Gregory, William Lucy, and Rev. Timothy McDonald. His work spans electoral politics, public health innovation, and Black theological tradition.

Beyond his professional commitments, Rev. Williams is a devoted husband and father. He lives in Detroit with his wife Angela and their two children, Charleigh and Charles Edward Williams III. A passionate endurance athlete, he has completed eight full marathons and is an IRONMAN finisher, having completed the 140.6-mile triathlon (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) in 16 hours and 52 minutes. He also enjoys sailing and finds spiritual renewal in the open water and long-distance challenges that mirror his commitment to sustained, justice-centered work.