TED Community » Maxim Williams

About Me

Maxim Williams joined Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in July/August 2008 as Director of Community Relationship Building and local leader of Bon Secours Healthy Communities Initiative.
Prior to arriving in Greenville, he spent 7 years consulting in the private and public sector as a People Strategy Consultant and Coach for private and public agency organizations across the nation, as well as to business owners and professionals within California. Maxim holds a Master’s Degree in Consulting/Organizational Psychology and research experience in the areas of Emotional Intelligence, Diversity & Inclusion, and Leadership & Team Building.
Maxim hails originally from Canada, is of Jamaican heritage, and has lived in places across the United States prior to relocating to Greenville in the summer of 2008.
Maxim has been honored as a community change agent by the House of Representatives of South Carolina in 2009. He was named one of Greenville’s Best and Brightest Under 35 in 2009. Maxim was the recipient of the MLK Leadership Award (January 2010) and a nominee for the Greenville Chamber’s Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement award in 2009 for his work thus far in the Sterling Community. He was also listed as someone to watch for one of Greenville’s 50 Most Influential People of 2010. In 2011, the Healthy Communities Initiative was awarded Jackson Healthcare National Charitable Service Award as a Program of Excellence.
In 2012, his current work involves facilitating a community development coalition of up to 150 individuals and organizations across sectors that has lead to the first organic community garden in West Greenville; a new urban trail system; the first neighborhood land trust in South Carolina; and plans for urban farm and micro-enterprise activity.
Maxim is the Vice-Chair of LiveWell Greenville; a board member of the Greenville Free Clinic; International Center of the Upstate; The Warehouse Theatre; Urban League’s Upstate Network; a regular emcee for Pecha Kucha Night Greenville; a 2010 speaker at the inaugural TEDX Greenville event; and a sought after facilitator/advisor. In his spare time, Maxim trains and competes in the martial arts and was a Bronze and Silver medalist at the 2012 World Championships in Karate.

Location:: United States, Greenville, SC
Current organization:: Director, Community Relationship Building
Gender:: Male
Areas of expertise:: Faciliator, Consultancy & motivation, Stragegic planning, Diversity & Inclusion, martial arts, Presentation & Training skills

I am:: Athlete, Change Agent, Christian, Consultant, Idea generator, Single, Social entrepreneur
Associations:: Pecha Kucha, TEDx Greenville, TEDx Greenville Salons
Languages:: English, Spanish
My website links:: Bon Secours Healthy Communities Initiative, Co Create Health, Bon Secours St. Francis Health
Universities:: Maryville College, Alliant / USIU (San Diego)

TEDx Organizer

More About Me

I'm passionate about

The importance of building relationships and pushing beyond current boundaries set by the status quo that perpetuate divisiveness instead of inclusiveness.

An idea worth spreading

All human challenges are relationship challenges. From economic disparity; social injustices; poor health; and on and on. We have created a world where we have more opportunities for "connection" yet we could not be more disconnected from each other in ways that truly matter. We are disconnected from the environment despite our recent efforts to reverse global warming trends and the global food crisis. The wealthiest persons consume and dispose of more resources than the majority of those who live beneath them. Our -isms (racism, sexism, homophobia, etc) not only persist, but are now becoming more and more intricately linked to our institutional systems as they relate to community development, business; and politics. To try to unpack this complex matrix is a daunting task. Yet, I believe its possible if individuals begin to believe and make a real this simple idea: Relationships matter most of all. If we can learn to build better ones, we will build a better humanity.

Talk to me about

Movies, my job, and martial arts, TEDx Greenville Salons!

People don't know that I'm good at

martial arts and cricket noises!

My TED Story

I started watching TED videos back in 2005. I was a people strategy consultant out of San Diego California and when I discovered TED, I had (and still do) wanted to go to a TED conference. Due to life circumstances and moving across the country to take a one of a kind career opportunity, I never got the chance . However, because of the work that I do, I was given the opportunity to speak at a local TEDx conference back in 2010 about an idea I felt was important underlying how I do what I do, why I do it, and why it matters. Now, two years later, I've joined the team to help bring the TED and TEDx Greenville brand to diverse communities all over town. I've made a commitment monthly to set up Salons all over town in a different part of our community and partner with different individuals each month to put on an event that showcases creativity, diversity, and builds a more inclusive atmosphere. We've managed to average 50 people a month and we aren't done yet!