This oral history interview was conducted with Nicolette Williams by Kristin Adair in Washington, D.C. Nicolette Williams was born in Washington, D.C. She talks about being raised by her aunt in Southeast D.C., because both of her parents were on drugs when she was a child. She describes returning to live with her mother at the age of 13, at which point she started getting involved in street life. She was in and out of the 14 years to life for murder. She served 16 years in prison and returned home to D.C. four years ago, in 2014. After she was released from prison, she became the victim of a violent crime herself in 2017. She is a member of the non-profit organization the WIRE (Women Involved in Reentry Efforts).