A well-respected community leader, Darnell L. Williams is President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, a nonprofit organization providing services and programs in education, career and personal development, and employment for African-Americans and other residents of color.

Mr. Williams earned his Master's degree in organizational development from Boston University after completing his undergraduate degree at American International College in Springfield, MA.  In May 2018, Mr. Williams will receive a second Honorary Doctorate of Laws from American International College. Prior to joining the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Mr. Williams was Manager of Management Recruitment and Development at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), as well as a Diversity Consultant in private practice.  Mr. Williams was President of the Springfield Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as the President of the NAACP New England Area Conference.

In 2011, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts paved the way for additional conferences of color to come to Boston by hosting the National Urban League’s Annual Conference in Boston after a 35 year absence. 

State and City Appointments:

• Chairman of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee (RSMPOC)
• Director for the United Way of Pioneer Valley
• Trustee of Bunker Hill Community College
• Trustee Beaver Country Day School
• Board member of the Boston Workforce Development Coalition
• Member of the Boston Study Group
• Member of Chief Executives' Club of Boston
• Trustee of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute
• Board member Federal Reserve Community Development Advisory Board
• Vice-Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners
• Vice-Chairman within the Division of Insurance for the Auto Damage Licensing Board
• Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA)
• Board of Directors of the Co-Operative Central Bank Board of Directors
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Retirement Fund Board of Trustees
• President of the Association of Executives of the National Urban League (AOE)
• Trustee to the National Urban League Board of Directors

Awards

• Worcester State University, awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters, May 2018
• Contributing member to Boston's successful effort to win the 2004 Democratic National Convention
• Community Service Award
• Paul Parks Veteran’s Community Service Award
• Inducted into the Human Resources Alliance for African Americans (HRAAA) Hall of Fame.
• Civil Rights Leadership Award from Harvard Street Health Center
• Transportation Community Partner Award from the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)