1988 SMHS graduate, Yolanda D. White, is the recipient of the 2010 Milwaukee Times Black Excellence Award.

Yolanda D. White
Program Director
UWM School of Continuing Education

Yolanda D. White is the epitome of passion and inspiration. Give her a task, she works it until it becomes a success. In a time where work ethic seems to be a thing of the past, her commitment to hard and smart work, is thrilling to experience.

She draws on her background in special education; journalism, publishing, parenting, aerobics, motivational and creative public speaking, career coaching, and training -- as Career Transitions Center program director.

Her drive for making the School of Continuing Education, not just the CTC, a big success is noteworthy. Community Relations is second nature to her. Mission, vision, community, partnerships, "you win, I win"; you'll be speaking her language.

Her talents are in defining appropriate marketing strategies, creating awareness for the CTC (and for positive Milwaukee programs in general), identifying low-cost/high visibility tactics to promote the mission of the center and to helping displaced or "in transition" workers gain access to the resources that will make them successful. Networking is natural, for her and occurs throughout the community state and country.

She has been the major force in managing the promotion and progression of the program. Her abilities in organizing all aspects of the system and taking calculated risks have enabled her and the Center to come to the attention of the Community. Her clients love her; her connections love her; people on the street love her. With Yolanda, you feel like anything is possible and when doing that "anything" you will be a success.

Active on the Systemwide Extension Council Executive Committee, the African American Academic Staff Committee, the American Association of University Women and Professional Dimensions; Yolanda is a graduate of the Start Smart Business Planning Series, and the Make Your Money Talk Series with Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC). Recently, she earned a professional certificate in training: Train the Trainer.

With a bachelor's degree in mass communications from UWM, and a minor in cultural anthropology; her certificate in Professional Communication from Alverno College glues it all together. She maintains certification as a 6-12th grade English teacher.

Regardless if her writing is about a fledgling restaurant owner, a high-powered business executive into curling, home grown, Rock, Country, and R & B singers as well as rappers; she is no stranger to delving into the ups and downs of relationships, on paper, imbusing a writing with a style that is poetic, moody, soulful and at times, introspective and brutally honest, even humorous.

White has written, among many subjects, Black drag racers, the fallacy of New Year's resolutions; and developed meaningful profiles featuring nationally and locally renowned celebrities, activists and politicians, including Governor Jim Doyle, Mayor Tom Barrett and Bill Cosby.

When researching and interviewing, White finds what motivates people and brings that to the fore; especially adept at plumbing the depths of emotions, desires and motivations of her subjects.

Her writing has been featured in Milwaukee Magazine, Riverwest Currents, The Business Journal, The Shepherd Express, Milwaukee Community Journal, Vital Source, Black Women 50+, Healthwise, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Turn Into the Wind: Saint Mary's Press, Pennsylvania; The Journal of Women Writing, Mequon; and the UWM Post.

She relied on those writing skills and creative presentation abilities to offer training, education and consulting services as part of Hands of Hers, a women's-based business which is certified by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce as a Minority Business Enterprise; targeting under served, disadvantaged populations.

Born in Kingston, New York; Yolanda grew up in and around Milwaukee and is raising a 14-year-old daughter, Nyla.