CASA Welcomes Y'Anad Burrnell
CASA is honored to announce our newest board member, Y’Anad Burrell, MPA/MHA, who joined CASA Board in January 2021 as a member of our Fundraising Committee.
Y’Anad is the Founder and CEO of Glass House Communications, a public relations agency, which she has owned for over 13 years. Glass House specializes in public relations, strategic communications, event planning, diversity, inclusion and equity consulting, crises management, brand marketing and board governance facilitation. For the last 5 years, Glass House has provided diversity consulting in the health and tech industries for companies who desire to be intentional about their footprint in leveling the playing field through an inclusive lens. Y’Anad is also the Founder and CEO of iHealth Innovation, a company that improves the health and wellness of diverse local and global communities through technology, innovation, collaboration, advocacy and the arts.
With her over 10 years of fund development planning and grant writing experience, Y’Anad believes she can help to elevate the voice of youth in foster care to stakeholders, community leaders and potential funders to meet a goal of both continuing to let people know how critical it is to support the youth, and build a pipeline of potential donors at the same time. Health equity is very important to Y'Anad and she has a particular interest in communities of color who have a high percentage of mental illness. Y'Anad's current doctoral studies at Saybrook University involve research around the impact of the intersection or non-intersection of technology and mental health services and access to quality healthcare in communities of color.
When Y’Anad joined San Francisco CASA 15 years ago, she was advocating for newborns who suffered from medical challenges due to their mothers being on drugs at the time of their birth. She knew that if children did not have their medical needs met, they would experience exponential challenges throughout their life in all the social determinants of health areas (education, environmental, housing, etc.). CASA’s mission is powerful to her for this very reason. Y’Anad says “If we are not giving special and intentional attention to our children who are forced into the court system due to abuse or neglect, then we have broken our social contract with America to protect every child who does not have a voice for themselves.”
Y’Anad serves on several boards and commissions: Commissioner, Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County, City of Richmond Housing Advisory Commission, Public Relations Sociaty of America (PRSA) National Committee Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, PRSA, San Francisco Chapter.
She has a BA Degree in Accounting (SFSU), Master Public Administration (GGU), Master Healthcare Mgmt. (GGU). Current: Doctoral Candidate at Saybrook University, Transformative Social Change Program.
