Her album inspired her to establish the Back to Me Project (2016), a curated multi-media brand platform. It emanated as a series of four theme workshops which also served as topics for speaking engagements. She parlayed it into creating a Back to Me one-woman show which fuses her authentic storytelling and life lessons with live performances of songs featured on her Back to Me album. Yoli performed her first one-woman show at her alma mater, Howard University, Washington, D.C. She got her feet wet with her first speaking engagement at Cal State Fullerton (2013). Yoli credits encouragement from the students that attended her workshops as the impetus to build her brand.

Next on her “to do” list was to author her first book, Back to Me: A Devotional Walk for the College Freshman Woman, which she self-published on Amazon (February 2018) and partnered with The National College Resources Foundation in support of The Black College Expo Conference the same year. An audible version is due out in 2022/2023. In 2020 she launched the Back to Me Project Podcast: College and Beyond, which has racked up 86 episodes and is available on Spotify, Apple, and Google Podcasts. Her 30-minute weekly podcast features monthly themes and special guest interviews.

While her Back to Me world is furtive and growing exponentially every year, getting here has been an ominous challenge, and required years of therapy, completely overhauling her inner core and self-perception. In 1993, she was a 21-year-old senior at Howard University. One day, while walking home she experienced every woman’s worst nightmare—which shattered her world.

Yoli had just received clearance to graduate, and was feeling ecstatic, joyous, and proud. She was looking forward to sharing the news with her family. Out of nowhere, a serial rapist grabbed her from behind with a gun plunged into her side. He forced her down a hidden stairwell at the back of a house. He demanded she pull her pants down. Yoli closed her eyes, prayed, and summoned the courage to risk losing her life by preparing to fight rather than letting him rape her. She then had an out-of-body experience and felt the “Presence” of what she believed was God. Preparing for the worst, she opened her eyes only to discover that her assailant had vanished.

Enduring that sexual attack threw her into a deep psychological tailspin on the precipice of fulfilling a childhood dream to attend and graduate from Howard. She was a die-hard fan of celebrated actor, producer, director, Debbie Allen, and she fantasized about following in Allen’s footsteps by attending Howard University. As a Musical Theatre major, she traveled to Hong Kong and performed in a Howard production of Dreamgirls. With the support of family and friends, she attended her graduation and triumphantly earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre.

The album title, “Breathing Under Water” was the first single released. Unfortunately, what should have been an auspicious debut backfired when Warner Bros. pulled the plug and opted not to release her album. That same year, she took another leap of faith and married her best friend on Malcolm X’s birthday, May 19th (2001).

Although they never released her album, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Sunshine,” one of the album tracks was featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture, “Deliver Us from Eva” (Focus Features, Feb/2003) which starred Gabrielle Union, LL Cool J, Meagan Good and Duane Martin. The film was adapted from William Shakespeare’s play, “Taming of the Shrew.”

The following year she earned a Master of Education Degree in Cross-Cultural Teaching from National University in La Jolla, California, (2004). In 2006 she founded the Unity Theatre Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization designed to serve as an outlet of creative expression for young people. In 2008, after seven years of marriage, she got divorced.

Yoli has never allowed trauma to smother or thwart her dreams. Her story is one of triumph over tragedy. She summarizes it by noting, “I’ve discovered that my elixir is channeling my vulnerability and life-changing stories into teachable lessons. Whether it’s my podcast, speaking, teaching, or through song, my spiritual passion is to touch and impact the lives of young people.”

The Back to Me Project offers keynote speaking engagements and a series of workshops on conceptual themes under the umbrella theme of Be B.O.L.D., Be Brave, Be YOU: 4 Ways to Break Free.

Each subtitle is delivered in a 45-minute format for keynote speaking appearances.
They can be customized, integrated together, and presented in-person or virtually.

The Back to Me Workshops can comfortably accommodate 25 – 100 people.
The length of each workshop is 45-minutes (in-person or virtually) and can be extended to 90 minutes.
The second part of the extended workshops allow for partnering and sharing, and group interaction among the partners.
In addition, our workshop series is offered for a 3-hour Mini-Retreat, or as a four-week academic course.