Cheryl P. Williamson: A Voice of Hope
“For Me, “Hope,” means never giving up, and that anything and everything is possible for he who believes. A manner in which I hold on to hope is accepting that there are always more opportunities. It is important to look at the lessons in different situations and make a decision to move on with life,” Cheryl says.
Cheryl and I just wrapped up the first half of an excellent interview for the Today’s Purpose Woman Spring print cover story. Her voice is still full of life as we switch from talking about “The Art of Influence”, to now a conversation for her digital cover feature about Hope-what it means to her and how God uses her to provide Hope to others.
There are many situations Cheryl could share where she had to hold on to faith and hope, believing that God had something better for her during difficult times. Becoming a multi Best-selling Author, Award-winning Filmmaker and Executive Producer, Transformational Speaker, and Certified Success Coach didn’t come easy. The CEO and founder of Williamson Media Group, LLC and Cheryl Polote Williamson, LLC shares that she has experienced hurt and disappointment from women she has loved wholeheartedly, served, and brought to the table with her. “Situations happened where things were done to try and destroy me,” she says. Instead of retaliating and letting those who tried to destroy her business, family, and marriage make her bitter, Cheryl leaned on God and loved even harder. “I realized that for someone to react, or treat another woman in the way that they treated me– that they had to have gone through something to make them that way. So, I made a conscious decision to love harder instead of hating.” Those who know what Cheryl experienced admires her strength and sees her as a beacon of hope.
“In this season, my mission is to be an example to people about faith, perseverance, and focus.”
So, how is Cheryl achieving her mission? “By bringing other women to the table, producing other authors, hiring women filmmakers, directors, producers, and bringing others to work on projects with me that are a blessing to the world.” Cheryl isn’t allowing anything or anyone to keep her from what God is calling her to do. She tells others that everything belongs to God and knows this from personal experience. She recalls God reminded her of those very words when things didn’t work out the way she expected with a production she fully invested in and made successful. “I prayed about it, and God told me not to worry about it.
He said, I never told you, you were supposed to take the project on the road. I only wanted to see if I could trust you. You didn’t lose the money. The money was mine, so go ahead, and move on.” Because Cheryl moved on, the Lord blessed her. She worked on the film “Illegal Rose” with Jasmine Guy and is currently working on other films.
Despite all that Cheryl has endured, she still finds the strength to live to fight another day, not just for herself but for her family and those God is using her to inspire, empower, and give Hope. Amid the pandemic, realizing how blessed and fortunate she is to be in a position to give. Cheryl partnered with Chef Felicia Gumala to provide individual hand-pack meals that included dessert and drinks with a smile delivered to hospitals, doctors’ offices, recreation centers, fire stations, etc. “I also realized that while feeding their bellies, I also had something to feed their souls. So, along with providing meals, I’ve also provided almost 7,000 or more books to the frontline and essential workers from February (2020) to present time.” Cheryl has received tons of letters and recognition from hospitals and fire stations, and other places that she’s served.
Always wanting to be a blessing to others, last year, for her 54th birthday (September 2020), Cheryl’s companies Cheryl Polote Williamson, LLC, and Williamson Media Group, LLC, gave $540 grants to six (6) women entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses respectively. “I wanted to be a blessing.” She also shares her other reasons: funds are limited, particularly for small businesses, including women and women of color, and she’s an advocate for women supporting women. “It seemed like it was my duty.” There was an abundance of entries, and soon Cheryl and her team announced that not only will they present the six winners as promised, but they decided to give away one (1) additional grant per month starting November 14, 2020, until December 2021. Cheryl and her team recently announced the February 2021 Women-Owned Business grant recipient as Velyncia Mallory of VC Events.
As she continues to elevate and provide Hope and inspiration for the everyday woman Cheryl recently launched Cheryl magazine. “I wanted to have something where women who are doing extraordinary things would have the opportunity to be recognized. Cheryl magazine is a place for women to read, share, see women their age, and see women who look like them doing amazing things.”
“We need to focus on Hope to have the future that we want to have.”
Cheryl encourages everyone to speak words of life instead of lack and death when it comes to hope. “See abundance in every area when you see yourself — an abundance of health and wealth opportunities. We must become abundant thinkers instead of people who are always talking about lack and not having enough,” she says.
Cheryl is truly a woman after God’s own heart and is here to serve.
Photographed by For Beauty Sakes
Don’t miss another issue of Today’s Purpose Woman Magazine.
