Black Business Spotlight: W&W Protection
After facing repeated job dismissals due to his past, Will Dinga turned a fallback plan into one of the Twin Cities’ most trusted Black-owned security firms. W&W Protection is more than a business — it's a launchpad for second chances, growth, and community empowerment.
More than a paycheck — a chance to grow
What began as a fallback plan after repeated job dismissals has grown into one of the Twin Cities’ most trusted Black-owned security firms. For Will Dinga, founder of W&W Protection, his story isn’t just about guarding doors; it’s about opening them as well.
Launched on June 6, 2015, W&W Protection was born from Dinga’s frustration with being let go time and time again.
“I’d get hired, work hard, and then someone would dig into my past,” he said, referencing a federal record that often stood in the way of long-term employment. “In Minnesota, they don’t need a reason to fire you. They just say, ‘We no longer need you.’”
Rather than accept the cycle, Dinga took control of his future. What started as bodyguard gigs and club security at age 17 turned into a full-fledged business.
“It wasn’t a dream… I didn’t plan on becoming a bodyguard. It just happened.”
A chance encounter with a New York rapper launched him into touring and managing high-stakes security assignments across the country. “That opened doors. I started meeting people just like me — no direction, no guidance. I brought them onto my team, and it grew from there.”
Today, W&W Protection is known for its presence at local events, school functions, and community centers across the Twin Cities metro area. But to Dinga, it’s more than a security company.
“I don’t run a security company, I run a de-escalation company. We work in spaces where people look like us, and that matters.”
W&W’s biggest impact lies not just in who they protect, but in how they empower. The company has become a haven for men with complicated pasts or uncertain futures, especially those beginning their journey into adulthood. Dinga offers more than a paycheck — he offers a chance to grow.
“Some of these guys have never had a bank account, never been taught how to show up on time or present themselves professionally,” he said. “They stay with me for a year or two, get the tools they need, and either grow with the company or take those skills into another career path.”
One of his proudest moments didn’t come from securing a celebrity; it came from seeing former employees thrive.
“I had a guy start his own business. Another went back to school and got his degree. Some of these guys came straight out of high school with no direction. To hear them say, ‘Thank you for the structure, I went back to school,’ that’s everything.”
Though W&W is rooted in Black communities, its work transcends cultural lines. Dinga trains his team to de-escalate, engage, and operate with professionalism in any environment. “The skills they gain here — conflict resolution, communication, cultural competence — those are transferable anywhere.”
Still, entrepreneurship hasn’t come without challenges. Dinga admits the biggest hurdle is internal.
“I overthink everything. When you’re responsible for other people, it’s a lot of pressure. I want things to be perfect. I don’t want to mess up, especially knowing others depend on me for their livelihood.”
His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs? “Be a student of life.
“Whatever you want to do, start at the bottom. Learn every piece of it. Watch how others do it and apply it. The key is getting out of your own way.”
For more information, visit www.wandwprotection.com.
Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@spokesman-recorder.com.