Youlanda Hudgins-Johnson is the founder of Cocoa’s Candles LLC and The Creative Wellness Center — a proud Black-owned and Woman-owned small business (a minority- and woman-owned business) rooted in Syracuse, NY. A dedicated leader, entrepreneur, and community advocate, Youlanda has spent her career helping others build confidence, resilience, and connection through hands-on creative experiences. Her background includes facilitating New Employee Orientation programming, along with certifications in Crucial Conversations and Getting Things Done (GTD). Youlanda is also a certified foster care provider with more than 20 years of experience caring for children of all ages — from young children through teenagers — and has guided the young people in her care through to high school graduation and on to college. Youlanda founded The Creative Wellness Center to bring that same spirit of empowerment into schools and communities — helping students, educators, and families build confidence, manage stress, and discover their own creative voice.