Editor’s note: This is another story in a series about candidates for the state House 200th Legislative District seat.

A pastor, clinical social worker, educator, and author, Deshawnda Williams is running to fill state Rep. Chris Rabb’s state House seat in Mt. Airy.

The 48-year-old candidate announced her candidacy with an endorsement from AFSCME District Council 33, the municipal workers union, and aims to tie her experience in social work to a potential career in politics.

She is running on a platform of “economic advancement, public health, and social justice.”

“The platform is based upon ensuring that people have accessibility to the resources that they need, primarily when it comes to public safety, when it comes to affordable housing, when it comes to education, when it comes to mental health,” Williams told the Local. “I think that it is important to highlight that there are some deficits. There are some challenges that many people face in the 200th and so my platform is providing the opportunity to make sure that the systems work for them, that the funding gets to them, and that they can have a quality life.”

Williams seeks to advocate for a living wage increase, small business development, and attracting economic development in the district she hopes to represent.

For public health, she wants to prioritize a push for substance abuse treatment resources, funding for community and faith-based health programs, and supporting access to care across the board.

“I think that a lot of times the state does come up with... items, things that they want to do, things that they discuss, but how does it actually trickle down to the people?” Williams said. “I think that systemically over time, certain systems throughout our district often get overlooked in terms of, did it actually materialize? If there are issues around funding for education, we talk about it at the state level, but does it actually trickle down to the schools?”

“I think the core of me is authenticity, transparency, and accountability. I think that people want people that can serve them and deliver, and be able to provide the solutions. … People are living in real-time situations, and they don’t have time for people that cannot deliver and not deliver with some sense of integrity and authenticity.”

While she has not previously served in public office, Williams says her role as a social worker has given her firsthand experience working with people and navigating the areas where government systems fail.

With her experience as a pastor, including at New Inspirational Baptist Church alongside her brother, Barry J. Williams Jr., Williams was an appointee to faith-based and interfaith affairs for the City of Philadelphia.

She also served as the first vice president and health committee chair of the Philadelphia NAACP Branch.

“I may not manage in the government office, but I’ve met the people where they are, to bring them to systems and to places to find the resources that they need,” Williams said. “I think that combination of the work, the lived experience, and the policy training affords me the opportunity to represent this district.”

Williams’ background

Williams grew up in the Nicetown–Tioga neighborhood and around the Germantown area.

“My father was the late Rev. Dr. Barry J. Williams. He was a pastor. So I grew up in a family of service, providing service to others,” Williams said. “That’s something that resonated with me for years. And so over the course of my lifetime, I’ve served in the capacity as a clinical social worker, as a pastor, as a community activist... just giving back to the community in any capacity that I could.”

She received her doctorate in Ministry in Global Missions from Palmer Theological Seminary.

After graduating from Tulane University in 2000 with a master’s degree in clinical social work, Williams moved to Mt. Airy. Williams said her mother would often take her to Mt. Airy to visit shops.

“Just watching how the community transformed from where I was living as a child, I’ve always felt the desire that I needed to be in Mt. Airy,” Williams said. “I wanted to be in this area. I love the shops around Chestnut Hill, the eateries, the artwork, the collective things that you can find along the corridors, and the people, just meeting new people and just having great conversations.”

Williams describes herself as an outdoorsy person spending time in the Wissahickon valley. In Mt. Airy, Williams said she loves to shop at Weavers Way and get dinner at McMenamin’s Tavern.

The primary election is on May 19, and Williams will compete against Chris Johnson, director of state and federal government relations for the School District of Philadelphia, and business owner Qasim Rashad.

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