2019
History of the Yellow Heart Committee (YHC)
Yellow Heart Committee is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization mobilizing to support the holistic mental health of trauma survivors through policy advocacy, education, and community outreach. This is achieved through our pillars of HEART: Healing, Empowerment, Advocacy, Relationships, and Transparency
History of the Yellow Heart Committee (YHC)
The Yellow Heart Committee (YHC) was founded in 2019 by N’dea Johnson, inspired by her own journey of resilience and advocacy. Following a traumatic assault and subsequent diagnosis of Conversion Disorder, which left her temporarily unable to walk, N’dea transformed her pain into purpose. She recognized the need for accessible resources and community-driven support for trauma survivors and launched YHC to address these gaps through policy advocacy, education, and outreach.
The Early Years: 2019-2023
YHC began as a grassroots effort and quickly grew into a network of passionate advocates and volunteers. It’s important to note that this organization was youth and young adult led and continues to engage with those populations for leadership. Some key milestones include:
Hosting over 20 community resource fairs, supporting youth, low-income families, and unhoused individuals.
Securing partnerships with organizations like TimesUp, The Family Justice Center, and Harvard COVID-19 Taskforce.
Proposing legislation in California to expand resources and education for survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
Meeting with over 44 elected officials to elevate survivor stories and advocate for legislative change.
Holding annual strategic planning retreats, growing from 6 members in 2020 to 10 in 2022.
Delivering impactful events, including holiday resource fairs that provided gifts and healing workshops for over 120 youth and collaborations with community leaders like Dolores Huerta.
A Pause to Heal and Regroup
In 2023, N’dea made the difficult decision to pause YHC operations to focus on her mental health. This time of reflection and healing reignited her passion and vision for YHC, especially as she found inspiration in her father, Orlando “OJ” Johnson, a former RPD Detective and coach. Together, they dreamed of creating a space where mental health support and community engagement intersected with sports and mentorship.
A New Chapter: 2025 and Beyond
Reinvigorated by her father’s legacy and her own healing journey, N’dea is relaunching YHC with a bold mission: to establish a mental health-focused community center in Richmond, CA. The upcoming HEART Classic Basketball Tournament will serve as the catalyst, honoring OJ’s vision of uplifting young athletes while advancing YHC’s commitment to trauma recovery and community building.
Why It Matters
From its founding to today, YHC has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable communities, leveraging education, advocacy, and collaboration to make a tangible impact. As YHC embarks on this next chapter, the organization’s foundation of resilience and community-driven action ensures a legacy of meaningful change.
In 2020, we held a strategic planning retreat in Washington D.C. solidifying our main administrative team along with staff volunteers and 13 interns to grow YHC to 26 committed young members.
In 2020 , we met with representatives from over 15 offices of elected officials ranging from locally elected to federally elected-- including those of former California Senator and now Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, about elevating the stories and educating on legislation to support survivors of trauma.
In 2020 and 2021 we held over 13 various community and policy advocacy events bringing in over 4,032 viewers and attendees.
In 2020 and 2021 we coordinated and cultivated 23 partnerships for the purpose of executing virtual events with major organizations such as TimesUp, The Family Justice Center, and the Harvard COVID-19 taskforce.
In 2021, we proposed a bill to the California legislature for the formation of a Sexual and Domestic Violence Task Force demanding an expansion on consent education, centralized sexual assault resources, and research on violence against people of color with an emphasis on Black and Indigenous people.
In 2021, we not only secured a partnership with the Family Justice Center but also secured a physical location at the Concord Family Justice Center.
In 2021, We received our first grant on behalf of Vice Mayor of Antioch, California for the excellent work we did for the city of Antioch Teen Dating Violence awareness month campaign.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR IMPACT
In 2019, we held our inaugural Bougie Brunch fundraiser, which was attended by over 80 guests, featured elected officials as speakers, and raised just under $3,000.
In 2019, we held a red sand sex trafficking awareness event, where red sand was poured in between cracks in the sidewalk to symbolize how survivors of violence fall between the cracks, after witnessing a brutal attack in Vallejo, California.
In 2020, we hosted a Sexual and Domestic Violence Town Hall for survivors, politicians, and non-profit leaders to brainstorm tangible policy changes to support survivors, featuring US Congressman Eric Swalwell and US Congressman Mike Thompson as well as President of Alliance for Hope, Casey Gwinn and CEO of Love Never Fails, Vanessa Russell.
In 2020, we hosted two healing workshops, which one was in partnership with Columbia University focused on reclaiming your mind, body, and voice after trauma.
In 2021, we hosted a Leaders Link Up on Women’s Success featuring Oscar Committee member, Dr. Bobbi Banks and former Congressperson Katie Hill.
In 2021, we held a subcommittee hearing at the California State Capitol in partnership with the Chair of the Banking and Finance Committee Assemblymember Tim Grayson on Streamlining Resources for Survivors of trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, we held three desk giveaways in Richmond, California providing desk for over 50 youth with the support of Steve from Desk for Kids.
In 2021, we officially signed for our first office space.
In 2021, we met with over 44 elected officials ranging from local, state, and federal levels of government to discuss and educate on the importance of advocating for survivors of trauma.
In 2021, we grew our organization to 42 volunteers across all teams and projects.
In 2021, we held over 20 group counseling sessions serving over 30 unhoused individuals from City Church Fairfield.
In 2021, we had our first internship and onboard 13 interns with over half returning to join the team full time.
In 2021, we held our strategic planning retreat in Denver, Colorado with nine team members growing from our previous six that joined the 2020 retreat in Washington D.C..
In 2021, we held three Holiday Hubs of Healing Resource Fairs for over 120 youth in the California Bay Area, providing them with gifts, resources, and healing workshops.
In 2021, we held three Holiday Hubs of Healing Resource Fairs for over 120 youth in the California Bay Area, providing them with gifts, resources, and healing workshops.
2022
In 2022 YHC Hosted Four Community Resource Fairs for the unhoused
Our CEO was nominated for the 2021 Heart of Napa awards for Excellence in Leadership
Our CEO spoke at the “Unity against hate” Anti- Asian violence rally with Millionaire CC Yin, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and multiple additional legislators and community leaders present.
YHC hosted the “Richmond Egg Hunt” in collaboration with Desk for Kids, the City of Richmond, Richmond Fire Department, and Guardians of Justice for over 30 young at risk Black and Brown kids
YHC hosted its first Art Healing workshop as part of its Dear Latino Parents series to discuss healing through art at Sylvester Greenwood Academy, a continuation school for Black and Brown kids in Richmond, California.
YHC held a discussion with Dolores Huerta on mental health in the latino community
YHC held it’s third internship bringing on 11 new interns
YHC did a capitol visit where three interns were given the opportunity to present their PEP projects to Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer Kahan, Assemblymember Lori WIlson, Assemblymember Rubio, and Assemblymember Riva’s staffer Julio Mendez
Held its third annual strategic planning retreat with 10 members in attendance
YHC produced its first contracted PSA on choking for Alliance for Hope
YHC hosted over eight Community Resource Fairs and clean up’s
December 13th 2022 YHC co-hosted or hosted over 20 community resource fairs, workshops, and events for at-risk youth, low income families, and the unhoused community.
December 21st 2022 YHC co-hosted a holiday party with local partners and provided over 400 gifts to students in the Bay Area.