In 2014, Yolanda noticed that parent presence was zero to none at her child’s school, so she started a parent group named Eagles Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) based in George Washington Carver and Bruce Street School for the Deaf under the umbrella of the National Parent Teacher Association where she was the President. As a result of membership, volunteering and engagement, two parents were hired by the district as teacher aides.
Yolanda was chosen as the parent representative to join Mayor Baraka’s Education Steering Committee on tours to several Community Schools in other states and the results birthed the Southward Community School Initiative. As Yolanda brainstormed ways in which to increase parent engagement, she and another parent created a parent survey which was extremely instrumental in getting parents involved.
In 2015, Yolanda took a deeper dive into increasing parent engagement and founded a parent organization named Parents Educating Parents, Inc. (PEP, Inc.) where she is the Chief Executive Officer. Parents and Caregivers can reach out to PEP, Inc to be linked to resources and learn ways in which to navigate through the educational system.
Yolanda has worked with a community member to advocate for Pre-K 3 & 4 enrollment slots and was successful at filling 500 slots within 30 days. Because of the urgency of preschool enrollment, they both have negotiated expansion of Pre-K 3 and 4 inside George Washington Carver and Bruce Street School for the Deaf for the 2018-2019 school year. In 2023, Yolanda was successful in collaboration with Newark Community Street Team's Assistant Executive Director in the insight of gaining more crossing guards for the Newark Board of Education School District. Yolanda’s #1 priority as an education advocate, is to increase parent involvement and community engagement.
We carry the torch of advocacy forward, fueled by the passion and determination of those who came before us. In remembrance of Johnnie Lattner, Roberto Cabanas, and Wilhemina Holder