Working to Help People
ACHIEVE
Dr. William Arnold grew up in the post-MLK assassination era in the city of Memphis, TN. As the child and grandchild of local public service icons, Dr. Arnold embraced the iconic “I AM A MAN” slogan of the 1960's sanitation workers strikes, which brought Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the city. This helped shaped his passion for public service, social justice and advocacy in his career.
In 2013, Dr. Arnold was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for crimes he did not commit. On April 15, 2020, at the height of the pandemic, he was released from prison. His case had been unanimously overturned by a three-judge panel in Tennessee. After losing nearly 7 years of his life, he returned to society determined to advocate for justice-involved individuals and create stronger and safer communities. He is a national speaker, panelist and consultant on the power of successful reentry, second chances and the progression of justice involved individuals and their value to society.
a Public Servant... an Activist... an Advocate.
I AM...
Testimonials
"William Arnold did a terrific job in speaking during our HopeWorks Annual Breakfast. Numerous comments from our donors and staff indicated a presentation that was obviously well prepared and very impactful for our approximate 350 member audience. I would highly recommend William Arnold for presenting his message with passion and depth."
Ron Wade
Executive Director - HopeWorks
“Dr Arnold’s story is one of perseverance in the face of adversity. We find him to be thoughtful and compelling storyteller, inspiring hope as we each relate in our own way to his story”.
Kay Kretsch
CEO - Dismas House
"Dr. Arnold delivered an impactful and motivational speech, sharing his insights on reentry from a deeply personal perspective. His lived experience, including a wrongful conviction, has shaped him into a perspective. His lived experience, including a wrongful conviction, has shaped him into a powerhouse advocate for individuals transitioning back into society after incarceration. powerhouse ."
Rosetta Perry, Executive Director of the National Association of Reentry Professionals
"Dr. William Arnold repeatedly showed evidence of his knowledge and compassion about the importance of "second chances." He is truly a servant leader paving the way to bring change to the justice-involved population. We gained a wealth of knowledge and learned the importance of working together to restore compassion for the common purpose as a community for our justice-involved citizens."
-Markesiah Jackson, HR Senior Recruiter/Second Chance Coordinator
Tennessee State Government
"William spoke to my Rotary Club about the importance of hiring people with traditional barriers to employment. It was an informative and engaging program and our members learned a great deal."
Shari Storm
Program Chair, Rotary Club of Emerald City
"Your story resonated with not only the participants we serve, but also with the vocational staff
team members. The professionalism that was shown and engaged dialogue provided a
comfortability level that is unmatched. Your fresh outlook on new beginnings and your reflective
hindsight changed the trajectory of how our participants will think moving forward in not only our
program but in life as a whole."
Myletta Moore-Dawson
Site Director, Center for Employment Opportunities, Memphis
