About Uncle Willie

From 17-to-Life to Youth Movement Leader

Willie “Uncle Willie” Edwards grew up in Los Angeles, shaped by the realities of poverty, pressure, and survival. At 19, he was sentenced to 17 years to life and ultimately served more than 26 years inside the California prison system.

Inside, he made a decision: he would not allow his last bad decision to define his entire life. He began to study human behavior, trauma, patterns, and the impact of environment on youth. He developed a spiritual foundation, learned to regulate his own emotions, and committed himself to becoming the mentor and protector he wished he had.

Over time, the cell became a classroom; conversations became counseling; and what was once a conviction became a calling. He began to write, teach, and guide younger men inside, practicing the principles that would later become the Zero-Tolerance Movement and the 5 Ps formula: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

In 2014, after more than two and a half decades, Uncle Willie returned home to Los Angeles. Instead of running from his past, he used it as proof that transformation is real. He stepped directly into service, working in juvenile halls, camps, transitional housing, and community programs as a credible messenger and youth intervention specialist.

Today, Uncle Willie stands as a voice for African-American and Hispanic youth who are navigating the same streets, the same systems, and the same temptations he once faced. Zero-Tolerance is his promise to them: with structure, truth, accountability, and the 5 Ps, you can build a different life.