Yolanda Adams
Assistant Director for Student Leadership & Family Outreach, GEAR UP
Appalachian State University
Summit Member
Professional Bio
Yolanda Adams, originally from Bogota Colombia, came to the High Country in 2002. She holds a 2 year degree in Business Administration from Broward Community College in Ft. Lauderdale FL, her original home when she moved from Bogota Colombia in 1992.
Adams worked for 5 years as a Spanish Interpreter for the Watauga County Health Department. In 2012, she was hired as the Spanish Interpreter and Translator for Watauga County Schools (WCS). Her passion and service to the Latino community lead her to apply and receive the position of Family Resource Coordinator for WCS. She has implemented the Juntos program, which promotes higher education for the Latino Community, a program developed by North Carolina State University. She has worked tirelessly to build bridges between the Latino Community and Law enforcement by helping set up meetings between both communities with programs such as Coffee with a Cop and the Latino Fair.
Adams also serves as a Spanish Interpreter for Child Protection Services, Daymark, the Department of Social Services, and the Children’s Advocacy Center. She has also assisted with interpretation for Watauga County Sheriff’s Department and the Boone Police Department. Adams currently serves as the Co-Chair for High Country Community Health, Chair for Manos Latinos Unidas, which she helped form, and member-at-large for the Immigration Justice Committee. She has been a member of the American Translators Association since 2017.
She and her husband, Jay, and four children, Alejandro, Christian, Joshuah and Hannah, enjoy working with the Latin community, and experiencing all the outdoor activities the beautiful High Country provides. They frequently travel for their children’s activities, and internationally for enjoyment.
Adams worked for 5 years as a Spanish Interpreter for the Watauga County Health Department. In 2012, she was hired as the Spanish Interpreter and Translator for Watauga County Schools (WCS). Her passion and service to the Latino community lead her to apply and receive the position of Family Resource Coordinator for WCS. She has implemented the Juntos program, which promotes higher education for the Latino Community, a program developed by North Carolina State University. She has worked tirelessly to build bridges between the Latino Community and Law enforcement by helping set up meetings between both communities with programs such as Coffee with a Cop and the Latino Fair.
Adams also serves as a Spanish Interpreter for Child Protection Services, Daymark, the Department of Social Services, and the Children’s Advocacy Center. She has also assisted with interpretation for Watauga County Sheriff’s Department and the Boone Police Department. Adams currently serves as the Co-Chair for High Country Community Health, Chair for Manos Latinos Unidas, which she helped form, and member-at-large for the Immigration Justice Committee. She has been a member of the American Translators Association since 2017.
She and her husband, Jay, and four children, Alejandro, Christian, Joshuah and Hannah, enjoy working with the Latin community, and experiencing all the outdoor activities the beautiful High Country provides. They frequently travel for their children’s activities, and internationally for enjoyment.
Company
Areas of Expertise
EDUCATION