Paulette “Paula” J. Williams

Law Teaching

Associate Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law 1999 – 2016

Visiting Clinical Prof., George Washington University School of Law 2009-2010

Visiting Lecturer, Legal Aid Clinic, Cornell Law School Jan. – Dec. 1998

Practicing Law

Asst. Attorney-in-Charge, Volunteer Div., The Legal Aid Society, NY, NY 1971-98

Racial Healing and Social Justice

I have a strong commitment to personal growth and educating myself to be a better citizen of the world. I have a vision that we can change the culture in the US from one based on competition and polarization to one based on connection, mutual respect, and love. My activities in furtherance of that goal have included the following:

Racial Healing Workshops

I created and facilitated a series of five Workshops where participants were invited to share their experiences with racial differences and interactions with people and groups other than their own. We looked at our responses to the global pandemic, the police killings of George Floyd and other people of color, the protests and demonstrations, as well as the political environment surrounding these issues. The process called for deep personal introspection. The first set of 8-15 participants were students of Katherine Woodward Thomas.

The first public Workshop series was held on the five Saturdays in January 2021 with 46 participants. A second public Workshop was held in March 2021.

My plan for 2021 is to offer a Workshop for an audience in New Zealand and Australia and three more Workshops in the US. These workshops will be enrolled and facilitated in partnership with colleagues in New Zealand and Cairo, Egypt.

American Civil Liberties of Tennessee:  2010 –

I currently serve as President of the Board of Directors of the ACLU-TN. I have been a member of the Board since 2010.

Courses, Workshops, Reading, Podcasts

I have been doing a lot of reading on racial and social justice issues, implicit bias, white supremacy, and white fragility. I have attended workshops and courses and engaged in conversations about racial reconciliation and healing the racial divisions within our country. I attended Justin Michael Williams’ Liberation Experience starting Oct. 12, 2020, and I have participated in presentations on Critical Race Conversations at the University of Tennessee College of Law. I am participating in all the events I can find that are addressing these critical issues.

Personal Development Courses:  1996 –

Since 1996 I have actively taken and facilitated a variety of personal development courses and workshops with the Alternatives to Violence Project, More To Life.org, the Community Building Institute, and Katherine Woodward Thomas. All of this personal development work supports my mission to create a world of connectedness rather than breakdown.