I help brands and companies thrive with my words and creative vision.
Hey! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is William I. Dawson, better known as “Will” to my friends, and as “dawsonink” online. I was born in Harlem Hospital uptown and raised in South Jamaica, Queens. When I was three years old, I knew I loved words. I remember my mother being so amazed that I could pronounce the word “Babylon” (we were reading bible stories). Her amazement made me want to do more. Read more. Learn more. Explore more. And thus, a writer was born.
Throughout the years, I’ve evolved and adapted to every medium. I started writing short stories in elementary school, graduated to publishing poems for local magazines, found my online groove via blogging, and then found my way to featured stories in national publications. And while it hasn’t been easy, it surely has been fulfilling. And people noticed! I’ve used that love of words to help brands create and define their messages, with my words featured across several multimedia platforms including brands such as McDonald’s, Amazon, Lexus, Wells Fargo, UNCF, and Southern Company.
I’ve written for The Recording Academy, providing a play-by-play to its readers leading up to the GRAMMYs, Music’s Biggest Night. One of my favorite achievements was serving as senior writer for the National Urban League publication Opportunity Journal, with my work archived alongside literary legends Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.
I’ve penned long form cover stories for Heart & Soul magazine, UPTOWN magazine, POSE magazine, and FOCUS, a magazine under the umbrella of The Amsterdam News. As an executive for the National Urban League, I oversaw its signature program, the Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP), convened conferences, scholarships, and case competitions for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
My career has given me the opportunity to assist others deliver their message. I’ve served as speechwriter for CEOs, lead communications manager for nonprofits, and script writer for global companies. As a writer/interviewer for the NAACP Image Award-nominated variety show Lexus Verses and Flow, I’ve had conversations with celebrities, poets and influencers. I’ve assisted in the creation of a scholarship that awarded $100,000 yearly to HBCU students that excelled in service to their communities.
My digital footprint also includes contributing to award-winning sites like SoulBounce, an online magazine that celebrates the past, present, and future of soul music, and serving as co-host of the podcast The Next Episode, which celebrated the best in television, music, and film.
All of those accomplishments that aided organizations look great on my resumè and have been a blessing. However, my proudest moments have been working as an entrepreneur, creating brands of my own that continue to yield positive results. The High Five Project is an online interview series and podcast promoting self-esteem. Dawson Eats America is a podcast that celebrates the history and work of Black chefs.
This year I also published my first book, An Introvert’s Guide to Surviving a Global Pandemic, the first in a series of Introvert’s Guides that provide humorous tips for those looking to accomplish their next big thing.
Currently I’m working on two other projects, including an anthology spotlighting the relationships between Black fathers and their sons, and a memoir that centers on my being adopted, and then meeting my birth family later in life.
Everything I’ve done over the past three decades has prepared me to help others find their voice. It’s prepared me to help you.
Please use my Contact page to schedule time to explore how we can work together to give your message its maximum impact. Let’s GO!
dawsoninkonline.com 