Actress Malinda Williams, known for her roles in Soul Food and The Wood, is now leveraging her platform to empower women in technology.
Through her nonprofit, Arise and Shine Foundation Inc., Williams is leading initiatives aimed at increasing STEM opportunities for women at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
A Career Pivot to Empowerment
Malinda Williams has been a staple in film and television, with appearances in popular shows like The Cosby Show and Sister, Sister.
Despite a successful career, she faced a period of stagnation, which sparked her interest in technology. In an interview with Afrotech, Williams revealed how a chance encounter with a coding book led her to teach herself programming languages over 15 years ago.
This newfound skill inspired her to launch empowerment platforms for women, especially in her community.
“I taught myself how to code and build websites at a time when you really had to know the code,” Williams said. “That experience empowered me and opened my eyes to the opportunities in tech, especially for women.”
Launching the Arise and Shine Foundation
In 2023, Williams co-founded the Arise and Shine Foundation Inc. with her sisters, Leslie Williams-Dunn and Lisa D. Williams-Sorensen.
The foundation focuses on connecting and educating underserved women and girls, offering programs like an HBCU coding boot camp designed to provide both technical skills and the confidence to succeed in the tech industry.
“As a successful actor, people didn’t want to hear my story of adversity or know that I can code. But that’s exactly why I’m so passionate about this work—we have to push through the expectations and focus on what we’re truly capable of,” Williams explained.
HBCU Coding Boot Camp: A Pathway to STEM Careers
The HBCU coding boot camp kicked off in May 2023 at Jackson State University in Mississippi.
The program introduced students to coding, application development, and Apple’s programming language through workshops and hands-on experience.
Apple partnered with the boot camp, providing devices and professional support.
“The young ladies blew our minds,” Williams told Afrotech. “They felt valued, trusted, and empowered—knowing that major organizations are willing to invest in their futures makes a huge difference.”
Following the success of this inaugural program, Williams plans to expand the boot camp to more HBCUs in 2025, with a goal of reaching every single HBCU across the nation.
“Our vision is to impact every HBCU,” Williams said. “Next year, we’ll be at a different school, and I ultimately want to do a tour, bringing this opportunity to regions across the country.”
