Acclaimed Coach and Filmmaker Turned Harlem Candidate
William Council, affectionately known as “Billy,” is a natural-born leader, and his dedication to making a positive change is prevalent throughout all of his life achievements. He is a life-long resident and active member of the Harlem community and has been a witness to the different phases the neighborhood has gone through. Billy’s experiences molded his passion for improving the lives of others, especially the impressionable youth; he is driven to serve others and lead his family, friends, and community toward a brighter future.
As a teen in the 80s, Billy was attracted to the neighborhood’s well-known drug dealers with their luxury cars, wads of cash, and their overall lavish lifestyle; and before he knew it, he was addicted to the fast life of Harlem. Behind the glitz and glamour, though, was the grim reality of the drug epidemic. When crack-cocaine ravished the community, an abundance of families fell victim to the disease of drug addiction, and unfortunately, it was the norm for many African-American families living in shielded poverty to be plagued by the epidemic. Billy’s own family was no different. He had to watch first hand as crack-cocaine ruined his own mother’s life; and if he thought things couldn’t get worse, they did.
Like any other morning before school, Billy was up bright and early, heading down the stairs of his apartment building. Little did he know, this would be the day that his life would change forever. With his backpack slung over his shoulder in the lobby of his building, he stopped dead in his tracks in a fear that’ll make your blood run cold. He found himself staring down the barrel of a gun and, in the blink of an eye, the fast life caught up to him. Billy was shot six times and didn’t know if he would live to see the future he thought was in store for him. He was hospitalized and eventually began rehabilitation — physically and mentally. His body transitioned to being able to move and walk again, while his spirit transitioned to one of maturity, leadership, and service to his community.
“That moment changed my life forever, in both a positive and negative way. I know firsthand what PTSD feels like and how best to push forward in spite of it. Over the last 25 years, I’ve used that experience as a catalyst to the work I do with Harlem’s youth — helping them avoid or overcome similar situations.” — Billy Council
Billy Council has always had a passion for a variety of sports, but basketball enamored him. Tension built with every thump of the ball against the floor before a free throw, echoing his heartbeat and slowing time until it stood still. Sneakers squeaked against the court and the cheers of the crowd rang in his ears. This was his life. The relationships he built with his team and the coaches provided him with the structure and sense of belonging that he needed; basketball fostered his success and gave him direction on his life’s path. Much like the hustle and bustle of the streets, basketball pulled him in, and Billy knew instantly that his love for the game would flourish throughout the rest of his life. He never wanted to see a day where he wasn’t involved in this sport, one way or another.
As a young adult, Billy was no longer just a basketball player. He soon became a mentor, thus the nickname “Coach Billy” was born. With one accomplishment after another, Billy Council was the most sought-after mentor and youth coach in the City. To date, he has several big wins under his belt, including two AAU Division One National Championships, two BCI National Championships, and several CHSAA championships. He has also worked as a trainer and coach for the NBA Players Association camps.
Everything he does as a coach, he does it for the kids. Each basketball practice and game is driven by his desire to give the youth the same discipline he learned from the game. He wanted to nurture young men through basketball and provide them with an environment where they can thrive. Coaching wasn’t the only outlet for Billy’s influence, because somewhere along the way, he discovered a love for filmmaking. In 2013, Billy combined produced Little Ballers, a documentary on Nickelodeon, which focuses on a group of four 11-year-old boys who find refuge in a basketball team while dealing with real-life issues like street and gang violence. The documentary highlights the ways in which the AAU brings young men in and provides them with an environment that fosters their physical and emotional well-being, teaches them how to collaborate with others, and gives them the discipline they will take well beyond the court.
Billy never put all of his eggs in one basket, though. His most recent endeavor was the CouncilHim Foundation, founded in 2018. This nonprofit organization’s goal is to inspire, empower, and equip young men of color to transform their lives. Billy’s influence is no longer bound within the borders of Harlem. Now, Billy and his colleagues can revolutionize the lives of young men of color across the nation, no matter what obstacles they have to overcome. Even in a pandemic, the organization continues to make progress with Billy’s leadership. The foundation’s programs quickly pivoted to offer pandemic-related support for those struggling under the weight of a COVID-19 economy.
The hustle didn’t start with basketball and it certainly doesn’t end with it, either. In the 90s, Billy had a hand in the success of several Black-owned businesses, including the well-known Shark Bar and Harlem’s Willie Michael’s Soul Food Restaurant, where he began developing his knack for leadership and entrepreneurship. He continued on to become the program director of Goodwill’s Cornerstone Compass Program, where he worked with City Council and State Assembly Members on the successful development, funding, and overall operation of academic and recreational programs to enrich the lives of residents and their families.
In the next chapter of his life, Billy has set his sights on a seat in the New York City Council representing Harlem’s District 9. Based on his current track record, he will accomplish what he sets out to do. Billy is fighting for the heart of Harlem, but he knows this is not one to be fought alone; he believes that “when a community takes care of each other and has strong, compassionate leadership, we can transform lives.” Community and teamwork are crucial to Harlem’s success, and Billy is devoted to bringing the change Harlem wants to see.
Harlem needs improvement in many areas, and Billy will focus his energy on building a better future for the community he loves — the one he calls home. The position of City Council will give Billy the platform to extend his reach to the youth of Harlem beyond the basketball court and the CouncilHim Foundation. With this opportunity, Billy will ensure that schooling becomes more accessible to all students, that teachers are given the proper resources, and that the internet will be available to all.
As Councilman, Billy will prioritize the economy by being a strong advocate for the preservation of Harlem’s small businesses and will work to ensure the dollars stay in the community. He will protect affordable housing units that already exist in Harlem and he plans to create more affordable housing opportunities. Council is also determined to improve the safety of District 9 because he knows all too well what it is like to feel unsafe in his own community. Domestic violence and shootings are on the rise, and he is committed to putting a stop to it. Billy will organize the community, and together, the people of District 9 will develop a safety plan that tends to the unique needs of the community.
Billy believes that it is time that the citizens of Harlem receive recognition as valuable contributors. Their contributions to the culture make Harlem attractive for all people. It is time to support their evolution in a meaningful way.
Billy Council is a true Harlem renaissance man, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, film producer, coach, and mentor. Today, as a proud father to three children, Billy is even more committed to the success of our youth and continues to use his experiences to advocate for improving Harlem. There is not a day that goes by that Billy is not, in some way, giving back to the community that raised him.
