Will provides an emotional and moving experience helping people to stay positive and become more resilient in life.

Will (Keeps) Holmes

"It isn’t what you’ve been through, it’s how you get through.” — Will (Keeps) Holmes

William Holmes, aka Will Keeps, was born into a traumatic life in Chicago, Illinois. At age seven, he was sexually abused by his step-father and felt neglected by his mother. Feeling confused, sad, angry, and lost, Will embarked upon what he never imagined would become a lifelong journey to find answers, only to realize his deepest desire was simply to have loving parents and a safe home.\

Like many other teenage boys in similar situations, Will found a form of love and security in a gang, joining the Blackstones of South Side Chicago at the age of 13. But this lifestyle led to even more trouble.

 At age 15, Will witnessed a rival gang murder his friend. When the gun was pointed to his own head, it jammed, but he was beaten and tortured nearly to death, leaving him badly scarred inside and out. Though he survived, this was only the beginning of Will’s second act, a life devoted to saving others.

Will moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in his twenties, seeking to build a legacy of hope and opportunity he never had growing up and to give back to his community and the youth within it facing situations similar to his. Coupling advocacy with music, his greatest passion, Will found that his God-given abilities and his story of bravery and perseverance empower others to go down a better path.

    • Overcoming obstacles

    • Resilience

    • Encouraging others

    • Helping people stay positive despite their circumstances 

    • Music, singing, rapping

  • Keynote   Workshop   Interview   Breakout   Panel

  • • Becoming Resilient: Being resilient means you can handle stress, trauma, and tough times. Through my talk, Becoming Resilient, we will explore ways to help keep people going in order to face challenges with a positive attitude, a sense of purpose, and a creative spirit to succeed.

    •  It's not about what you've been through but it's how you get through: Regardless of your past experiences, it is crucial to develop the ability to overcome challenges. Numerous factors can lead to feelings of inadequacy, but succumbing to these feelings will perpetuate a state of negativity. This talk will help participants cultivate strategies for effectively navigating difficult situations.

TESTIMONALS

“Will delivers a powerful and emotional message in a way that only he can. Will's story shows that through strength, determination, and resilience, anything is possible.”  
- Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg

“What a treat it was to listen to Will Keeps testimonies. Each time I chime in to listen from Chicago, I gain knowledge and growth, which motivates me to birth my gifts.”
- Sharon Holmes, Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of Chicago

“Will has a very powerful personal story to share. Hearing him tell his personal story is both emotional and inspiring. His journey and his desire to help youth succeed is something that we can all learn from. Will is a living testament to his mantra 'it’s not what you’ve been through it’s how you get through.”  
- Kate Bennett, United Way

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