Sydney Mckinney-Williams has spent years dedicating her time and creativity to helping others. Whether intentionally or not, she finds herself leading projects and events that build and educate communities.

However, her efforts to make a difference extend beyond her time as a student. About four years ago, when she was working at her grandmother’s daycare, there was a young boy who, while very good at writing numbers, was struggling to write the number eight.

“This was ironic because I struggled with that same number as a child too,” she said. “When he finally got it, we both got super excited, we jumped up and gave each other high fives. I am still super proud of him for working through that because I know it was hard for him, and I was happy to help him understand it.”

This small example demonstrates how Sydney tries to make a difference. Whether it be an individual or a large group of people, Sydney works to make a positive impact on the lives of those around her.

Empowering Through Culture

As Vice President of the Black Student Union, Sydney has created spaces for dialogue and cultural celebration. She has organized events, one of which focused on black maternal health, and initiatives that celebrate black culture and build connections across campus.

Recently, she helped plan a "Noche de Bailar" (Night of Dancing) event that featured Black American hustles, Latinx dances from various countries, as well as traditional dances from the Philippines.

Office of Student Life Program Coordinator and Black Student Union Advisor Jerrard Wheeler praised Sydney, noting that her “ability to connect with and tell the stories of marginalized perspectives is important for a society rapidly becoming more multicultural.”

The Art of Storytelling

A significant way, and perhaps the most prominent way, that Sydney has made an impact is through storytelling. As a Journalism and Media Production student, previous Executive Producer for Campus Video Network, and Digital Storyteller with the Mardigian Library, she uses film to highlight important narratives. She has also hosted multiple panels on art and film topics on campus.

“My passion in life is to use film to make an impact on the world. I want to tell stories on the screen that help show more representation of different things in the world,” she said. “My minor is in sociology and those topics that I discuss within that program often show up in the different films I find myself working on.”

One notable project was a film Sydney created in connection with UM-Dearborn’s week-long celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her short film, “MLK: The Impact of the Dream,” reflected on King’s influential “I Have a Dream” speech and featured perspectives from faculty, staff, students, and alumni about his influence on their lives.

“Working on that project allowed me to ask people on campus about the impact the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech has on them in the current day,” Sydney said. “That speech is famous and it is important to think about why those words can still hold an impact in the current times of the world.”

Vision for the Future: Film Production

The road ahead for Sydney Mckinney-Williams is clear: become a film producer. It’s not only the obvious next step for her career but one she dreams of and envisions for herself.

“I want to continue to grow my skill set in the field and continue doing my part in bringing new stories to life,” she said. “I want to be a part of the representation that plays a role in the things that go on behind the scenes within a film. Having representation is equally as important on-screen and off-screen, and I want my work to reflect that.”

Her current project, for which she received a grant, is titled “Uncovering: History of the Black Student Union.” This documentary chronicles the history of black student organizations at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Film Professor Adam Sekuler remarked, “She spent countless hours at the Mardigian Library, piecing together fragments of the past from yearbooks, meeting minutes, and old photographs. Determined to give voice to those who had shaped this history, Sydney reached out to alumni, many of whom had not been back to campus in years. One alum remarked that Sydney's thoughtful questions and genuine curiosity reminded them why their work had mattered.”

The film premiered last week on April 4th at the Inclusive History Project Summit.