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WHEREAS, Monica Williams, also known as Nika to many, has worked for the City of Pittsburgh, Department of Parks and Recreation for 32 years. She was born and raised in the Hill District by her mother, the late Bernadette Helms, with her sister Margaret Randall and two brothers Edgar and Brandon Randall. Her uncle, Henry Montgomery acted as her father figure; and,
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WHEREAS, Monica played basketball while attending college to study Art and Design and coached 22 years of basketball at Winchester Thurston School. After helping friends coach basketball at a recreation center, she was offered a part-time Recreation Leader position at the Arlington Recreation Center and Phillips Recreation Center. She was promoted to Recreation Leader 1 and worked at Greenfield, the Southside Market House and Ormsby Recreation Centers; and,
WHEREAS, she was asked to oversee the operations at the Ammon Recreation Center and the Southside Market House gym. After 5 years, Monica was appointed as the Acting Center Director at the Southside Market House, later promoted to Director at Ormsby Community Center. She returned to the Arlington Recreation Center as the Community Center Director, where she plans to stay until she retires; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Williams has been coaching and running basketball programs in the City of Pittsburgh for over 20 years. She helped expose inter-city youth to college basketball and a college campus. Her basketball programs and mentorship she brings to the youth of the City of Pittsburgh are unparallel to any other in CitiParks; and,
WHEREAS, although she loves serving her communities, Monica’s heart belongs to the loves of her life her three beautiful children, son Robert Schatzman, and daughters, Tres and Andrea Williams. Her children have blessed her with 5 grandchildren, Kaine Schatzman, Leilani Ford, Marquis Schatzman, My’Lai Hudson and Raegan Schatzman, to whom she adores; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend Monica Williams for her years of continued service and unselfish commitment to the youth of the City of Pittsburgh; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, Tuesday, July 9, 2024 to be “Monica Williams Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.