In Episode 15 of “The Belonging Place” Kylee Shields sits down with her friends. Vanessa & Yahosh Bonner. They talk about God, Family, the importance of a name, basketball, Haiti, adoption, black culture & history, humanitarian service, and more.
Vanessa is a social worker, mother, and helps support the orphanage in Haiti where she was adopted. Yahosh is a performer, the Athletic Director at American Heritage, and part of the Bonner Family singers. Together they have 4 children whom they love deeply.
Born and raised in Haiti, Vanessa was adopted at the age of 13. She attended the University of Utah, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology. With a deep passion for service, Vanessa is now a dedicated social worker and was honored as “Case Worker of the Year” by the Utah Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) in 2024.
Vanessa remains committed to her roots, sending frequent aid to several orphanages in Haiti, including Foyer de Sion, the one from which she was adopted.
She has been married to Yahosh for 15 years, and together they have four children. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to bring people together.
Yahosh Bonner was born the fifth of eight children in Las Vegas, NV.
Yahosh comes from an accomplished musical heritage. He and his wife Vanessa have 3 boys and a girl. Malachi 14, Samaiah 10, and Nehemiah 8, and Kuregiy 2. He is a TV and YouTube cohost.
He is a motivational speaker, and actor. In addition he is a recording performing artist. Yahosh starred in the movie called “His Name is Green Flake”, which is an award winning film recently released.
Yahosh was featured in Utah Valleys Business Q’s 40 under 40 edition. Received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from The University of Northern Colorado and Masters from Southern Utah University in Professional Communication.
Currently the Athletic Director at faith based private school, American Heritage. Yahosh also enjoys emceeing and public speaking and he wishes to live up to the quote, “I am my ancestors wildest dreams.” Looking for every opportunity to bring the Spirit into every situation as Christ is the center of all his family decisions.
ABOUT OUR HOST: Kylee Shields
Kylee Shields is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the Clinical Director of Juniper. Juniper is a trauma informed, community based outpatient treatment program for youth ages 13-18 who have experienced sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Juniper part of the Malouf Foundation and a part of PHASE Alliance ( Malouf Foundation + The Elizabeth Smart Foundation + Fight The New Drug). PHASE stands for prevention and healing against sexual exploitation.
Throughout her career she has worked closely with adolescents in the areas of trauma, substance use, depression, anxiety, oppositional defiance, bereavement, processing disorders, process addictions, and more. She draws from her prior experience working at EFY, residential treatment settings, HEFY, a therapeutic boarding school, and wilderness therapy.
Kylee is a published author, co-founder of a non-profit (INSPIRE: Music. Service.Hope), Music Director of the Utah chapter of INSPIRE Chorus, Advisory Board Member of Heare Brotherhood, and a world traveler.
Kylee enjoys writing, playing her piano (Ella Mae), singing, spending time with friends, nieces and nephews, and being outdoors.
LISTEN/SUBSCRIBE TO “The Belonging Place” Podcast:
*Apple Music - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belonging-place-with-kylee-shields/id1736354936
*Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-belonging-place
CONNECT WITH KYLEE SHIELDS:
All Links: https://thebelongingplace.komi.io/
*Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_belonging_place/
*TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thebelongingplace?lang=en
*YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheBelongingPlace
*Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheBelongingPlacePodcast/
CONNECT WITH VANESSA BONNER
*Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/vanessass_corner_?igsh=MXhndGE2dDU2ZXZvdA==
*Service: Mentors International-https://mentorsinternational.org/
CONNECT WITH YAHOSH BONNER
*IMDB-https://m.imdb.com/name/nm8961972/?ref_=nmbio_ov
*Spotify-https://open.spotify.com/artist/0S2PueVg0I0JvOtqP9ICIS?si=iPT_dF5_Tb-xv1zN_-OnPA
*YouTube-https://youtube.com/@yahosh?si=rDmVGDJWrCmxcODE
*Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/yahoshb?igsh=a3Y0czlsMTN3eXA5
Yahosh will be playing Coalhouse Walker in “Ragtime” at https://www.theruth.org/ M/W/F cast.
