Yolanda "Yoli" Kershaw is a community advocate, writer, and public service professional whose interests span law, social issues, culture, the arts, and the many ways individual experiences shape the communities we share.

Raised in a middle-class family in South Orange, New Jersey, Yolanda grew up in a diverse village that helped shape her appreciation for different cultures, perspectives, and ways of life. She has a deep affection for her home state, often referring to New Jersey as the “center of the universe” with a healthy dose of hometown pride and humor. Her connection to New Jersey remains an important part of her identity and her appreciation for the communities that make the state distinctive.

Her academic background includes a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a bachelor's degree in Print Journalism & Public Relations Communications, with a minor in Political Science, from Kean University. Her professional experience includes more than two decades of work in the legal field, including nonprofit service supporting low-income communities and work within the federal public defense system.

Throughout her career, Yolanda has been drawn to work that serves people and addresses the challenges facing individuals and families who are often overlooked. Her experience includes supporting reentry efforts and programs serving returning citizens as they navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives after incarceration. She has a particular interest in access to opportunity, housing, education, criminal justice, and the circumstances that shape people's ability to build stable and fulfilling lives.

A Black American with Gullah Geechee roots and a multiracial family history, Yolanda has a deep appreciation for ancestry, history, cultural identity, and the diverse experiences that contribute to the American story. Her interest in these subjects extends beyond her own family history to a broader appreciation of the people, traditions, and perspectives that shape our society.

Outside of her professional and community work, Yolanda has a longstanding appreciation for poetry, literature, visual arts, music, and creative expression. She enjoys exploring ideas, examining different perspectives, and finding connections between subjects that might initially seem unrelated. She believes curiosity is an important part of being an engaged and thoughtful person.

This website brings those interests together. Through her writing, Yolanda explores politics, culture, and everyday life through an independent lens, seeking to illuminate complex subjects with thoughtful perspectives, heart, and wit.

She welcomes thoughtful conversation, differing perspectives, and opportunities to explore ideas that encourage us to think more deeply about the world we inhabit and the future we hope to create. Friends and readers are welcome to call her Yoli.