About Me

Physical and mental health are the foundation of a strong and thriving community. Across Maryland, too many families struggle to access quality healthcare, mental health supports, and preventative services. As a leader deeply connected to the realities facing children, parents, seniors, and Veterans, I believe in expanding access to culturally competent care, strengthening school-based mental health services, and investing in community wellness programs. We must eliminate stigma, increase early intervention resources, and ensure that every resident—regardless of income or zip code—has the opportunity to live a healthy, balanced, and dignified life.

Economic empowerment is not just about jobs—it is about generational opportunity. Maryland is home to hardworking families, small business owners, and entrepreneurs who deserve a fair shot at prosperity. My focus is on expanding workforce development programs, improving access to capital for minority-owned businesses, and forging partnerships that create high-quality careers in education, healthcare, technology, and the trades. We must reduce barriers that limit economic mobility and ensure that every resident has the tools, training, and support to achieve financial stability and long-term success. Economic empowerment is the pathway to a stronger and more resilient future for Southern Maryland.

Housing is a basic human right, yet too many residents are being pushed out by rising costs, limited supply, and inequitable development practices. Affordable housing must be prioritized through fair zoning, increased investment in mixed‑income communities, and responsible development that preserves the character of our neighborhoods while meeting real demand. I am committed to policies that expand homeownership opportunities, protect renters from unjust practices, and ensure that teachers, first responders, young adults, and seniors can afford to live in the communities they serve and love. A stable home should be within reach for every family in Maryland.

Every resident deserves to feel safe in their home, school, and community. Public safety requires a balanced approach—one that supports law enforcement, invests in youth prevention programs, and addresses the root causes of crime such as poverty, trauma, and lack of opportunity. I believe in strengthening partnerships between communities and first responders, expanding mental‑health crisis intervention teams, and investing in programs that provide positive pathways for young people. True public safety is achieved not by fear, but by building trust, expanding opportunity, and creating environments where every resident has the chance to thrive.

Education is the backbone of opportunity, and I have dedicated my career to ensuring that every child receives a high‑quality, equitable education. As Chairperson of the Board of Education of Charles County, I have worked to strengthen academic achievement, expand student supports, and improve transparency and accountability across our schools. Maryland must fully fund the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, recruit and retain excellent teachers, and provide modern technology and safe school environments. Our children deserve world‑class schools that prepare them to lead, compete, and succeed in a global society.  

Yonelle is serving in her second term as Chairperson of the Board of Education of Charles County Maryland – Maryland’s 9th largest school district with over 28,000 students and a budget of over $529 million. She was unanimously appointed to serve as the Chairperson of the National Black Council of School Board Members, and serves on the Board of Directors of the National School Boards Association. Yonelle is a 2024 graduate of the Leadership Maryland Executive Program. 

An active member of the National Bar Association, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Law Division, and as Second Vice Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. Yonelle is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (by appointment of the ABA President, extended to only 1% of attorneys). She serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE); Leadership Southern Maryland (Class of 2022); the Charles County Scholarship Fund, Inc.; and the United Way of Southern Maryland. Yonelle is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Vice President of the Southern Maryland Chain (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.