My name is Yvonne C. Withers. I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, an author, and an early childhood educator committed to helping children find the words, confidence, and support I needed when I was young.
I am also an entrepreneur, a mother of four adult children, a grandmother, and the Founder and President of The Brave Star Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children through education, awareness, and the courage to speak up.
In addition to my work in education and child advocacy, I proudly serve as President of the Long Beach Chapter of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce. In this leadership role, I am committed to supporting the growth and advancement of Black-owned businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, fostering meaningful business relationships, and helping create opportunities for economic empowerment within our communities. I believe that strong businesses contribute to strong families, and strong families help build thriving communities. My involvement with the Chamber reflects my broader commitment to leadership, collaboration, advocacy, and creating opportunities that positively impact future generations.
As the owner and director of KidsZone Preschool Academy in Pasadena, California, I have devoted years of my professional life to caring for, educating, and advocating for young children. Working closely with children, parents, and educators has deepened my understanding of how important a child's earliest years are in shaping their confidence, emotional well-being, sense of security, and ability to communicate.
My commitment to protecting children brings together my professional experience and a deeply personal understanding of what it means to be a child without the words, knowledge, confidence, or support needed to speak up.
I know what silence can feel like. I know how childhood experiences can follow someone into adulthood. And I understand that healing is not always a straight or easy journey.
For many years, childhood sexual abuse and other traumatic experiences during my youth were part of my private story. Today, I have made the conscious decision to turn some of the most painful chapters of my life into something meaningful for myself and for children and families who may never know my name.
I cannot change what happened to me as a child, but I can use what I have learned to help change what happens to another child.
That belief became the foundation for my work as an author and the creation of The Brave Star Corporation.
Through my children's book, Zuri's Brave Star: Finding the Courage to Speak Up, and my growing collection of educational stories, I am working to introduce important conversations about body safety, personal boundaries, unsafe situations, bullying, trusted adults, and the importance of speaking up.
My goal is to help preserve children's innocence by giving them age-appropriate knowledge, confidence, and the reassurance that their voices matter. Children deserve to understand that unsafe behavior is never their fault and that they can keep asking for help until someone listens and takes action.
I also recognize that protecting children requires more than simply telling them to speak up. It requires adults who are willing to listen, recognize warning signs, take children seriously, and respond appropriately when a child reaches out for help. The responsibility for protecting children belongs to adults.
That is why The Brave Star Corporation is committed to educating children, parents, caregivers, teachers, and communities.
As a mother and grandmother, I understand the tremendous responsibility we have to create environments where children feel loved, respected, protected, and heard.
Throughout my professional and personal journey, one principle has remained constant: meaningful change begins when people are willing to lead, serve, and invest in the well-being of others.
Whether I am advocating for children, supporting families, encouraging entrepreneurs, or working alongside fellow business and community leaders, I believe that education, opportunity, and empowerment are essential to building stronger communities.
My journey has not been without challenges, and I do not pretend to have all the answers. But I have learned that our experiences, even the most difficult ones, can become powerful instruments for change when we choose to use them to help others.
Today, I am choosing advocacy over silence, education over fear, and purpose over pain.
Through The Brave Star Corporation, my hope is to expand our educational outreach, provide books and resources to schools and families, and create opportunities for meaningful conversations that may help prevent a child from experiencing the trauma that so many survivors carry.
I share my story because somewhere there may be a child who needs the words I never had, the reassurance I needed, or a trusted adult who knows how to listen.
If my story, my books, or the work of The Brave Star Corporation can help even one child find the courage to speak up and receive protection, then this journey has meaning.
But my vision is much greater than reaching one child.
I want us to reach thousands.
With the support of compassionate individuals, businesses, educators, community partners, and donors, I believe we can.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about me, my journey, my commitment to community leadership, and the mission behind The Brave Star Corporation.