Yvette likes a challenge, and is willing to do whatever is asked of her to serve children and families. Deeply spiritual and committed to supporting those in need, she is currently the Associate Vice President for Programs and Advocacy. In this capacity, she will take an even greater role in advocacy and public education about issues affecting children and families, a role she has successfully honed as the Project Director for the Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team.
“My personal mission is to make a difference in the lives of children and families,” says Yvette. “To be present and supportive to those in need. To serve as a guide for those who are on a journey towards healing.”
Before she joined The Village, she was director of the YWCA Sexual Assault Crisis Service and an outpatient clinician for Catholic Charities’ Black Family Enrichment Program. She was appointed to serve on the Connecticut Advisory Council for Victims of Crime, whose primary role is to provide recommendations to the Office for legislative or other matters that would improve services to victims of crime. She is an appointed member of CT Advisory Council for Victims of Crime. She is a board member for the YWCA of the Hartford Region, Christian Fellowship SDA Church and the Underground. She is a member of DCF’s Statewide Racial Justice Committee.
Generous with her time and talents, Yvette serves as co-chair of The Village’s Staff Engagement Committee, which is charged with “effectively engaging, supporting and retaining Village staff; striving to create a culture where employees enjoy a collaborative, mutually supportive and personally rewarding work environment, allowing staff to feel connectivity to the mission, feel recognized and appreciated for their expertise and contributions, and that their voice matters.” Previously, she played key roles in planning staff events including the annual Stand Against Racism and Diversity Day, as well as serving on the training, cultural competency and emergency preparedness committees. Yvette provides training on human trafficking and Cultural Competency for Village Staff.
A licensed professional counselor, Yvette earned her master’s in education in counseling psychology from Cambridge College and a bachelor’s in psychology from Trinity College.
Yvette is a published author. Her article, The Bond that Harms: The impact of trauma bonding on human trafficking victims, was published on Forbes.com. She has written several Village Blogs and articles for the HART Helps Newsletter. Yvette is a TEDX speaker on the topic of human trafficking.
What quote best captures your personal philosophy?
Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. – From scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
What is something unexpected that most people don’t know about you?
I was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica.
What do you most want clients of The Village to know about you?
I care and am invested in assisting them in meeting their personal goals. I am willing to advocate for systemic changes that will allow them to have access to the resources they need to take care of themselves and their families.