Meet Yolanda Jiggetts

We were lucky to catch up with Yolanda Jiggetts recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yolanda , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience has been woven into the very fabric of who I am. It’s the sum of every experience, every challenge, and every lesson that has shaped me, from my childhood to my professional journey.

I am a proud product of Park Heights, a community in northwest Baltimore, Maryland – home to the nationally recognized Preakness Stakes. But the neighborhood itself, has long been underfunded and often overlooked. Still, there has always been a tenacity about the people who live there. Park Heights was the first place I learned to dream and to never give up.

After graduating from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, a STEM-focused public college preparatory school, I made a choice that surprised many—I joined the U.S. Army instead of immediately continuing my education. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions of my life. At the time, I had no idea that the Army would equip me with the toolkit for my future. As an Army medic, I learned triage, mastered operations and logistics, and witnessed firsthand the power of teamwork. These lessons became the foundation upon which I would build my career.

After my military service, I’d initially set my sights on becoming a nurse. But a volunteer opportunity at the Community Law Center opened my eyes to a different way of serving my community. That experience led me to a paralegal position after college—an unexpected steppingstone that propelled me into the world of community development.

For more than 25 years, I’ve dedicated myself to public service, working in multiple departments within Baltimore City Government—including my most challenging role as Deputy Mayor in the Stephanie Rawlings-Blake administration. Throughout my career positions, I’ve problem-solved at the local and state levels and in the private-sector. Things have rarely gone as planned the first time, but I’ve learned to never be defeated. Change is taxing. It takes its toll. A leader has to be the constant.

Now, as CEO of Park Heights Renaissance (PHR), I see my journey coming full circle. This role isn’t just a career milestone—it’s a homecoming. My lived experiences, professional experience, and deep-rooted love for this community fuel my vision for its transformation. Park Heights shaped me, and now, I have the privilege of shaping its future.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At this stage in my career, I’m challenging the status quo. My focus is on building and expanding Park Heights Renaissance (PHR) so that it is a model for what a community development corporation should be—a hub that ensures every resident, business, and organization in Park Heights has the resources, support, and structure needed to thrive.

Too often, we see organizations working in silos, duplicating efforts instead of collaborating for greater impact. My vision for PHR is to change that. We are not just another nonprofit; we are community strategists. Our goal is to build meaningful partnerships, transfer knowledge, and equip organizations with the tools they need to stand on their own. This means focusing on capacity-building, workforce development, and creating strategies for sustainable success.

One of the biggest challenges in community development isn’t just securing funding—it’s making sure the right people are in the right positions. We need innovative minds, people who think outside the box, and professionals with an agile mindset who can help drive real change. It’s not about going with the flow; it’s about shifting the flow.

This work is deeply personal to me. When I began at PHR, the library I’d known as a child had been gone for nearly two decades. Growing up in Park Heights, I saw firsthand how limited resources impacted my community. For me, the library was a lifeline—it was my escape, my safe haven, my gateway to opportunity. While some found escape from the environment in the streets, I found mine in books. That experience fuels my passion to create alternative opportunities for today’s youth. Libraries, community centers, and mentorship programs can be transformative, and I want to make sure Park Heights is a place where those opportunities exist for everyone.

PHR’s future is rooted in sustainability. I want us to be a home base—a trusted institution that strengthens organizations so they can eventually operate independently. Our approach goes beyond placing people in jobs; we assess and remove the barriers that keep them from employment in the first place. We work to ensure that workforce partners provide not just jobs, but long-term career pathways.

Ultimately, I see PHR evolving into a social enterprise that continues to drive community transformation. We are focused on securing resources, forming strong partnerships, and implementing a strategic plan that the entire community can rally behind. There’s still work to be done to restore trust and overcome past disappointments, but I believe in the power of this community. We are on the brink of something great, and I’m honored to be part of that journey.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been lived experiences, discipline, and the ability to dream BIG visions. These have shaped the way I approach challenges, build solutions, and create meaningful change.

Lived Experiences
My entire life has prepared me for this moment. From growing up in a challenging environment to finding refuge in the library, every experience has shaped my passion for community-building. I’ve learned that knowledge, exposure, and access can be life-changing, which is why I work to create spaces that provide resources and opportunities for others, especially children.

Advice: Lean into your own story. Every hardship, lesson, and moment of growth is valuable. Use your experiences to fuel your mission and connect with others authentically.

Discipline
My military experience instilled a deep sense of focus and mission-driven action. The ability to stay committed to a vision, execute plans effectively, and remain resilient in the face of challenges has been invaluable. My training as a medic taught me to assess first. A good plan is an informed plan.

Advice: Discipline isn’t just about consistency—it’s about staying focused on the bigger goal even when progress feels slow. Set structured plans, stay accountable, and keep moving forward.

Visionary Thinking
I always think five years ahead and work backwards, breaking down the big vision into actionable steps. The things happening today were ideas in 2020. Whether mapping out strategies, identifying the right people, or listing resources needed, I keep sticky notes posted like puzzle pieces. I reconsider them, reevaluate them, and reengineer the order and process until I have a pathway to a goal.

Advice: Train yourself to think beyond the immediate. Hone strategic thinking by asking, “Where do I want this to be in five years?” Then, break it down into smaller, tangible actions. Surround yourself with innovative thinkers who challenge you to look at the bigger picture.

For those starting out, the key is to stay grounded in your experiences, to commit to disciplined execution, and to always keep the vision in sight. Build trusted partnerships, embrace collaboration, and never stop mapping the steps to make your vision a reality.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, Park Heights Renaissance is eager to collaborate with innovative appropriately skilled individuals and organizations that share our vision of building a thriving, equitable, and economically strong community. As a recipient of Governor Wes Moore’s ENOUGH Grant, we are focused on attacking childhood poverty at its root, by increasing economic opportunity and mobility and revitalizing Park Heights through creative, innovative, community-driven solutions.

We welcome partnerships with:
Community-Based Organizations working in housing, education, workforce development, and youth engagement.
Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs who are invested in economic growth and job creation in Park Heights.

Media & Storytelling Experts to amplify our mission, document impact, and shift narratives around disinvested
communities.

Local & National Brands committed to ethical business practices and investment in the businesses and people within the Park Heights Masterplan area.

Public & Private Sector Leaders dedicated to urban development, policy change, and holistic community transformation.

If you’re passionate about collaboration over competition and believe in leveraging lived experiences to drive change, we’d love to connect!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos courtesy of Park Heights Renaissance

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