Yolo Akili
#170493 Most Popular
About
American activist, writer, poet, counselor, and community organizer who advocates for addressing mental and emotional health needs in the Black community. He has 10,000 followers on Twitter and 10,000 on Instagram.
Before Fame
He was born Michael Todd Robinson Jr., but after earning his degree in women's and African-American studies from Georgia State University, he adopted the name Yolo Akili. In Swahili, "akili" means wisdom or intelligence.
Trivia
He is the founder and executive director of BEAM, which stands for Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective. He named the organization in honor of Joseph Beam, the cultural and political activist who inspired him to reflect on his personal vulnerability as a black gay man. He is also a certified yogi.
Family Life
He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His father was in the military and his mother worked as a department store manager. Because of his father's work, the family spent time in Weierhof, Germany, Fort Lauderdale, and August, Georgia.
Associated With
His BEAM collective has received money from Jordan Peele. He contributed to Tarana Burke and Brene Brown's bestseller You Are Your Best Thing. Other supporters include Kelly Rowland and Colman Domingo.
