Who We Are
TWOC is rooted in care, community, and connection. We believe every young person deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported, not fixed, judged, or reshaped to fit someone else’s expectations — including the rigid expectations of society.
Our work is non-clinical and grounded in real relationships. We meet youth where they are, offering support that is practical, relational, and responsive to their actual lives. We pay attention to what’s happening in real time, what’s getting in the way, and what might actually help. We focus on on building skills, strengthening communication, and navigating everyday challenges.
Whether through coaching, advocacy, skill-building, or community spaces, we walk alongside young people as they build confidence, navigate systems and relationships, and grow into themselves, at their own pace and in their own way.
Meet The Founder
Lois Williams, MSW (she/her)
Lois brings over a decade of experience supporting youth and families across schools, healthcare, residential care, and community settings. She holds a Master of Social Work and has spent much of her career working within systems designed to support young people. Through that work, she saw both what helps and where systems often fall short, especially for youth who don’t fit neatly into expectations. Those experiences shaped her approach and led her to create something different.
She is deeply rooted in Southwest Michigan, where she has spent her life building relationships, working within local systems, and gaining a deep understanding of both the community and the diverse identities within it.
Lois is known for her relational, grounded approach and her ability to connect with young people in a way that feels real, consistent, and easy to trust. She shows up as someone who listens, pays attention, and helps young people make sense of what’s happening in their lives while building tools they can actually use.
Her work is shaped not only by professional experience, but by lived experience. As an LGBTQ+ person with ADHD, Lois understands firsthand how important it is for young people to have support that feels safe, accessible, and affirming, and how often traditional systems fall short of that.
She formed TWOC from the belief that young people deserve more than systems that try to fix, change or manage them. They deserve support that is practical, relational, and grounded in real life. Through TWOC, Lois works alongside youth and families to build confidence, strengthen communication, and navigate challenges in ways that feel sustainable and true to who they are.
What is TWOC?
TWOC stands for The Work of Care.
At its core, care is not just something we offer, it’s how we show up. It shapes how we listen, how we respond, and how we walk alongside young people and families in real, everyday moments. It shows up in the small things, how we communicate, how we build trust, and how we stay consistent over time.
Care is the foundation of everything we do, but it doesn’t show up in just one way. At TWOC, it takes shape through three core values: care, connection, and community, each reflecting a different way we support and show up for the people we serve. Together, these values guide how we build relationships, support growth, and create spaces that feel real, accessible, and grounded in everyday life.
Care
…means showing up in ways that are real, consistent, and responsive. It’s not about fixing or changing young people. It’s about supporting them as they are while helping them build skills, navigate challenges, and move through their lives with more clarity and confidence. We center safety, trust, and respect in every interaction, creating space for youth to feel seen, heard, and supported.
Connection
…means building relationships that feel real, safe, and grounded in trust. It’s not about control or correction. It’s about being alongside youth in a way that feels human and honest. We believe meaningful support happens through connection, where people can be themselves, communicate openly, and not have to navigate things alone. Connection also means creating space for honest conversations, where young people can ask questions, try things out, and figure out what works for them without pressure or judgment.
Community
…means creating spaces where people feel like they belong. It’s not about fitting in or meeting expectations. It’s about showing up as you are and being part of something that feels supportive and shared. We create opportunities for youth and families to connect, build relationships, and learn from one another while feeling less alone in what they’re going through.