Yladrea is a native of Houston, Texas. She is an accomplished compliance consultant, lawyer, political strategist, and leadership trainer. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Texas State University and a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center. Yladrea is the Founder & CEO of Capital Strategies, LLC, which is the first black-owned political/NGO compliance and financial services firm in the United States. Additionally, she serves as the Chief Programs Officer for Amplify Action, a 501(c)4 organization that cultivates the civic and political engagement of Black and African American men in the Southeastern region. Above
all of her accomplishments, she takes pride in her biggest role as a wife and mother of her two sons. When it’s all said and done, Yladrea pledges her life’s mission, to uplift others, be a vessel for the unheard, and tackle injustice across the nation.
PWH: What inspired you to start writing?
YD: At first it was a way for me to vent and be heard. Then it became something I enjoyed doing whether it be a college essay or correcting a speech for someone. I just enjoyed the power of words.
PWH: When did you first consider yourself an Official “Writer/Author”?
YD: I still haven’t given my self the rights to that title. But I will say that the first time I realized I had the writer’s touch was in undergrad. I wrote an essay as a freshman and my professor gave me a zero. If you received a zero you had to go meet with him. So I met with him and he said to me, “ I gave you a zero as an excuse to put a name to a face. This essay was written on a graduate school level. I haven’t seen someone so young write at this level.” I knew then that I had talent but I never thought in my wildest dreams it would be good enough to be an author. Yet, here I am!
PWH: What is the message behind your book “Through These Eyes?”
YD: The message is that your truth is your truth, but even more so, your healing is yours and yours alone. The road doesn’t look like anyone else’s. No matter what you have been through, if you get real with yourself you can pinpoint the cause, see the effects and start to work towards better days!
PWH: Where can we purchase your book?
YD: http://www.yladreadrummond.com
PWH: What’s next for you and your writing career?
YD: Honestly, I don’t know but what I do know is that this isn’t the last you will hear from me!
PWH: Bonus: What Advice do you have for an aspiring writer?
YD: Just go for it. Don’t fear the unknown. Stay true to yourself and write what moves you. There may be similar topics, similar stories but the one thing that will never be similar is you. There is only on you. As long as you keep that in mind you can’t go wrong!
Connect with Yladrea online at https://www.yladreadrummond.com/
