Yolanda Edrington
CEO of Respect Together
How has this community shaped who you are and the work you do?
This community has shaped me by reinforcing what I’ve always known to be true, that leadership is built through relationships. I grew up in a military family and lived in many places as a young child. Moving often, alongside my three siblings, taught me early how to share space, listen, compromise, and build connection quickly. Those lessons have stayed with me.As a mother of three children and a grandmother to four, I understand how deeply our systems and communities shape people’s lives across generations.Being rooted in Pennsylvania, and Harrisburg in particular, has reminded me that real change happens when you stay close to a person’s lived experiences. Survivors, families, advocates, and frontline staff in this community continue to shape how I lead grounding my work.
What does leadership look like to you—especially as a woman?
Leadership, especially as a woman, means leading with authenticity. My lived experience as a Black woman, a mother, and a grandmother has taught me that showing up fully isn’t optional, it’s essential. Leadership isn’t about fitting into systems that weren’t built for us; it’s about challenging them while keeping compassion and accountability at the center. To me, leadership looks like clarity without control, strength paired with care, and transparency over perfection. It means understanding that the work of change is shared, and that nurturing people, just like nurturing families, requires patience, honesty, and intention.
What obstacles have you faced, and how did you push through them?
One of the most persistent obstacles I’ve faced is navigating systems that don’t always value equity, care, or lived experience while still being expected to lead with certainty. As a Black woman in leadership spaces, that can mean carrying extra scrutiny while working to create space for others.
I’ve pushed through by staying anchored to my values and leaning on a full, loving support system. Being a mother and grandmother has taught me resilience, perspective, and the importance of community. Those lessons have helped me lead with steadiness, even when the work is difficult.
Has there been a failure or setback that ultimately helped you grow?
I’ve had moments where I stumbled, where decisions were hard, outcomes weren’t immediate, and affirmation didn’t come quickly.Those moments reminded me that leadership isn’t about being unbreakable or having all the answers.Becoming a teen mother was the hardest experience I’ve ever had to grow through. Some may have seen it as a failure, and at times, I did too. But that experience also revealed the power of support. Having people who believed in me made all the difference.The Harrisburg community was part of that support system. It helped me learn resilience, responsibility, and the importance of showing up even when things feel uncertain.That experience shaped the leader I am today and taught me that growth comes from humility, patience, and a willingness to keep going.
What do you hope your impact on this community will be five or ten years from now?
In five or ten years, I hope my impact is felt in stronger systems, healthier leaders, and communities where care is central rather than an afterthought. I hope survivors experience dignity and real choices for healing, and that those doing this work feel supported and sustained.
As a grandmother, I think often about the world we are building for the next generation. If my work helps create a community that is safer, more compassionate, more connected, and more honest, where people feel seen and supported, that will be the legacy I’m most proud of.