C. Imani Williams was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She won her first writing contest in 5th grade and was invited to read her short story in front of the Detroit City Council, where she received a key to the city. Imani would enjoy creative writing throughout her school years. Imani attended Eastern Michigan University where she earned a BS in Communications in1986. In 1990, she earned a graduate degree in Counseling also from Eastern MichiganUniversity. In 2010 Imani added a second graduate degree earning an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Antioch University/ Los Angeles. She also earned a Post-MFA Certificatein the Pedagogy of Creative Writing. This allows her to teach poetry, personal essay, and short story writing at the university level and in the community. As a trauma survivor, Imani writes to breathe and understands what it feels like to be vulnerable and feel safer as the ink spills. Imani has received recognition for her media contributions to the LGBTQ community. In 2002, she was the award recipient from Detroit Black Gay Pride, in 2003 Imani was the recipient of the Star to Detroit Award - LGBTQ Reporting, from Michigan Equality. She went on to receive the Sylvia Robinson Activist Award from Unity Fellowship Church in 2005, and the Pride Media Award again in 2006. In 2023, C. Imani was appointed to the NV Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster for multi-disciplinary, Creative Writing, and Jewelry Design. She also received NAC Individual Artist Grants in 2022 and 2023. Imani’s book publications include ROOTWORK: Triumph Over Trauma 2021, Altadena Poetry Review 2019, Poem “Sadie”. Imani is a co-author of Reflections Of A Survivor – Arranged by Melony Hill (2017), Imani shared insight in “Unconditional” A comprehensive guide for parents of LGBTQ Youth (2017) -- Telaina Eriksen, she provided the foreword for “Intimacy” by Shannon Ford-Jefferson -- (2016) and was a contributor for Poets and Allies For Resistance Anthology. (2015- 2017). She has published essays in three anthologies with A Gypsy’s Library/Negra Sappha Press. (2016-2018). Imani is a Queer Creative Arts Holistic Wellness Life Coach in Las Vegas, Nevada where she uses art to help others heal and release trauma.