A Credible Messenger, Artist, Father, and Community Voice
- bossbayarea
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
For over 50 years, BOSS has been a vital thread in the fabric of our community—fighting to dismantle systemic inequities, walking alongside those most impacted, and creating spaces of safety, healing, and transformation. In today’s climate of social unrest, political neglect, and generational trauma, positions like Tyrone’s are not just important—they are essential.
Tyrone D. Williams Jr. stands at the intersection of lived experience and leadership. A son of East Oakland, Tyrone is a rapper, father of a child with special needs, and a Credible Messenger whose story resonates deeply in communities too often overlooked. At 31, Tyrone brings both youthful relatability and hard-earned wisdom to his role, shaped by years of community work, starting as a teenager at Youth Uprising, where he discovered a powerful connection with young people navigating the streets and systems he knew firsthand.
Whether it’s a candlelight vigil, a liquor store stoop, or a tent encampment—I show up because I’ve been there. I know that pain. I’ve lived that truth. And I’m here to listen, not judge.
What is a Credible Messenger?
A Credible Messenger is a trusted community advocate—someone whose lived experiences mirror those of the people they serve. These roles are part of our Haven for Black Healing and Violence Intervention efforts. Credible Messengers don’t preach, they reach. Tyrone’s credibility stems from his ability to survive systems that were designed to fail him and from using that survival to create a blueprint for others.
Tyrone carries stories like the one behind the song Kendrick Perkins, a tribute to his best friend, a local barber taken too soon. His lyrics are poetry and protest, therapy and truth. And when he shares them with youth in crisis, it’s healing.
It’s more than a song. it’s trauma, happiness, sadness, and truth. And the streets hear it differently when it’s coming from someone who’s walked them.
Why Support BOSS Now?
In neighborhoods like East Oakland, violence has become both systemic and generational. And while news cycles move on, our communities are left to pick up the pieces. That’s where BOSS steps in, with people like Tyrone leading the way. Through Adamika Village and our broader ecosystem of care, BOSS provides resources, mental health support, housing pathways, and compassionate accountability.
Tyrone’s presence reminds us: healing is possible when it comes from someone who knows the wound. He’s helping young men choose a new direction, showing families that support still exists, and reminding us all that our community is still worth fighting for.
Because healing doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens in community. And this community showed what’s possible when we come together.
If you believe in building a future where everyone has a place to call home, we invite you to join us.
Support the mission.
Volunteer your time.
Donate to support an individual new to housing.
Share this story with someone who needs to see what’s possible.
Visit self-sufficiency.org to get involved.
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