About Yolanda

Yolanda delivers presentations that inspire, uplift, and challenge. Yolanda began her professional career at an emergency shelter for battered women after that she managed Kids First a state facility for severely emotionally disturbed children. It was experiencing and hearing others share about the extraordinary emotional and physical toll of this work that inspired Yolanda’s series of Self-care services. Her own recovery required the same stress reduction practices she teaches today, deep breathing, grounding, meditation, guided relaxation, yoga.

For decades Yolanda was a part-time speaker part time adjunct professor of sociology. These courses most influenced her work: Race and Minority Relations, The Sociology of Work, and Social Problems. Most importantly Yolanda believes that the marriage of her human service background and her sociological insight make for smart, provocative, and engaging presentations.

Yolanda is a survivor of trauma. She shares in her autobiographical keynote Elum: Awakened Mule, that her healing began when she was diagnosed with PTSD. Yolanda shares with audiences her long painful and rewarding journey to healing, including her experiences with intense therapies like EMDR and Family Systems therapy.

“Yogi’s Social Conflict Inventory” Yolanda’s most requested activity, was inspired by years of facilitating groups for both males and females convicted of domestic violence. She especially enjoys sharing this workshop because it highlights the importance of taking full responsibility for our emotions and actions by looking deeply at the conditioning behind them.

If you follow Yolanda’s work, you have probably heard of her alias, Auntie Yogi. Auntie Yogi represents the “mama bear” approach Yolanda brings to her social justice work, especially on behalf of African American women and families. Yolanda’s work emphasizes the role personal human bias and structural racism negatively impact black families.

Yolanda has earned a master’s degree in sociology and bachelor’s psychology. She is a member of her Leadership Tallahassee, and she serves on the Council of the Status of Men and Boys. 

Yolanda is inspired by the woods. She meditates most days, and she loves to dance. Yolanda is also influenced by a long line of ministers, deep thinkers, and rebels.