Donna Carson-Williams (aka Donna Janel) is a lifelong Chester resident dedicated to advancing her hometown through a focus on parenting and family. Donna is the Founder and CEO of Donna Janel, Parenting with A Purpose and From Grief to Greatness – initiatives that combine her life experiences, knowledge and commitment to others. She is a Franklin Covey (the 7 Habits of Happy Children) nationally- designated Parent Leader and a Leadership Parent for the benchmark Appoquinimink School District in Middletown, DE.
Donna has overcome personal trauma, including a life as a resident in Chester’s Bennett Homes, after being removed from her mother’s care at an early age by the Division of Social Services. Donna bounced from home to home, sleeping in parks and train stations, all throughout her high school years. Overcoming these challenges, Donna has since led a life of service. For 17 years, she worked with children at the Nemours A. I. Dupont Children’s Hospital, holding numerous positions such as Lead Office Nurse, Program Coordinator for Nemours Foster Health, Lead Office Nurse for Adolescent Medicine, Nurse coordinator for medically complex, and Clinical Nurse for the Cerebral Palsy practice. She earned several awards as a Pediatric Nurse, as well as Mother of the Year.
When Donna is not working as a nurse, she spends her time investing in the lives of others by encouraging, promoting and empowering parents and their children. She served as a youth leader in her church for over 15 years and as a CASA (Court Appointed Advocate for Children in Foster Care). Donna’s Parenting with A Purpose Leadership Academy classes and workshops tackle challenges and provide guidance and sound advice to parents. She hosts workshops for From Grief to Greatness. Her recent project is her Parenting with A Purpose Podcast, where she aims to bring back the responsibility, nobility and beauty of parenting.