10/13/2026
Kamala A. Williams | Founder & CEO, The Lotus Flower Project Inc.
Because I thought I heard somebody say, “Who does she think she is?” 🙌🏽💞
I am Kamala—pronounced “Comma-La”—and my name means lotus, a flower that rises from the mud and blooms beautifully despite its circumstances.
It wasn’t until I turned 40 that I truly embraced my name. After a marriage that ended at a young age, difficult decisions, and countless challenges, I was searching for meaning and purpose. Learning that my name represented resilience helped me see my own story differently. My struggles had shaped me, but they did not have to define my future.
From that discovery, The Lotus Flower Project Inc. was born in 2019. It represents me and the many women who have been bent but not broken.
Today, resilience carries an even deeper meaning in my life. On December 31, 2024, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer. My journey has since progressed to Stage 4 breast cancer, with spread to my liver. Through chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, ongoing treatment, and moments of uncertainty, my faith remains strong. I continue to find hope in everyday victories and gratitude in the opportunity to celebrate life.
Living with cancer has deepened my understanding of how much people need support beyond a diagnosis. Families still need groceries, mothers still need diapers, and women still need spaces where they feel seen, supported, and valued. That understanding strengthens my commitment to the work we do.
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, The Lotus Flower Project is a nonprofit serving women, mothers, caregivers, children and families, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our work prioritizes underserved communities on Jacksonville’s Westside and Northside, particularly Health Zone 4. Many of our wellness programs focus on women ages 18–49, with select workshops welcoming girls ages 12 and older.
We provide a holistic approach to hope, help, and healing through education and practical resources:
- Project W.I.N. provides diaper assistance, baby essentials, and wellness education to support mothers and families.
- Kamala’s Kloset offers free clothing in a welcoming, inclusive boutique that supports dignity and personal expression.
- Kamala’s Kitchen helps address food insecurity through our food pantry and Blessing Box.
- The Lotus Prison Project provides connection through pen-pal outreach and support for people navigating reentry.
- Self-Care Saturday, Self-Care Sunday, and other wellness workshops offer opportunities to learn stress-management skills, explore creative expression, and build supportive connections.
Together with our community partners, we address everyday barriers that affect health and well-being—because access to food, clothing, baby essentials, and emotional support helps families and communities thrive.
Before founding The Lotus Flower Project, I served as Executive Director of a nondenominational, affirming ministry in Jacksonville, where I also oversaw the women’s department. That experience strengthened my ability to listen, offer spiritual encouragement, and create spaces where women and girls feel they belong.
Today, I share my life with my husband, Aaron, and our fur baby, Grace. I am a wife, community advocate, woman of faith, and founder living with Stage 4 breast cancer. I am still growing, still serving, and still blooming.
My desire is to remind every woman and girl that her circumstances do not erase her worth or her purpose. You deserve support. You deserve hope. You deserve the opportunity to bloom.
Bent but not broken. Born to Bloom. Together We Rise! đź’ś
“I’m fighting for the girls who never thought they could win.”
—Nicki Minaj, my favorite quote
My favorite scripture: 1 Peter 5:10
A reminder that God’s grace can restore us and make us strong, firm, and steadfast through suffering.
Follow:
"www.thelotusflowerproject.org" (https://www.thelotusflowerproject.org)
