School Board School Community

Waleia Larkin is a founder and governing board member of AUTISM and WE. She is the proud parent of a child with Autism and has a background in Healthcare as a Certified Medical Assistant specializing in Insurance verification. Waleia has a BS in Communication and serves as a rape and domestic violence advocate for Women Helping Women. She is a certified Ohio peer to peer mental health and addiction coach. Waleia currently works at Butterfly Services as a mental health performance coach and has clients at Dohn, COTA, and Bethany House.

Her goal is to empower parents and caregivers to advocate for those with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities. Through education, sharing of ideas, and providing a listening ear, she hopes to provide a support system that will foster a nurturing environment that will expand our communities' capacity to grow and become more inclusive. 

Wally Hart is the Rap Coach and Marketing Coordinator at Music Resource Center - Cincinnati.

Wally has been involved in hip hop music and culture for over 20 years as a DJ, producer, rapper, researcher, writer, promoter, educator, mentor, and rap coach.

Wally did his PhD work in Sociology at Texas A&M where he taught Sociology courses for 5 years. His research focuses on systemic racism and the production and consumption of and public discourse about hip hop.

Watch Wally’s Impact Presentation here: https://youtu.be/6E_F0uSaHIU

Yolanda is a dedicated educator currently teaching Algebra 1 at Western Hills High School and serving as a Girls 2 Women Advisor. With a deep commitment to educational equity, she believes passionately that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve greatness, irrespective of their zip code.

Her journey in education has been enriched by diverse experiences. Previously, she worked with The Ohio State University's Young Scholars Program and with the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative as an Educational Talent Search advisor. These roles have allowed her to empower students and advocate for their academic success beyond the classroom.

Personally, Yolanda is proud to have raised five sons who each graduated from different CPS high schools, which has given her a unique perspective on the educational landscape in our community.

She is driven by the belief that education is the cornerstone of empowerment and social change. Through her work, she strives to inspire and support young minds, nurturing their potential and fostering a future where all students can thrive.

Watch Yolanda’s Impact Presentation here: https://youtu.be/sm6VWZrVUuA