Age: 37
Occupation: Illinois Army National Guard as a logistics officer, second lieutenant, an ecosystem builder, an agribusiness consultant, a community-oriented leader and the founder of many local and international business ventures, notably Afro House Springfield, DM Global Group LLC and The Motherland Community Project, a nonprofit that works to address food insecurity in underserved communities in Springfield and central Illinois through a sustainable-urban-agricultural system.
Email: motherland.gcp@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor’s degree in geography science and an associate degree in agricultural business
Family: Married with a daughter, 3.5, and a son, 22 months
What would you like to give back to your community?
I give back by reducing disparities in access to healthy food while advocating for more equity within Illinois food production systems.
What led to your career?
I grew up in a farming family in Cameroon, Africa, and have a passion for and experience in sustainable-urban-agriculture production.
What are your greatest professional accomplishments?
My work has been featured on NPR, The State Journal-Register, Fox Illinois and News Channel 20. I received the 2023 Illinois Jaycees’ The Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois Award, 2024 Sertoma Club of Springfield Man of the Year.
What do you do in your free time?
I volunteer and play soccer in my free time.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about community building, economic development, community development and agroforestry.
This article appears in July SBJ 2026.
I have volunteered with Yves for over 3 years and have found him to be honest, dependable, passionate about his work and love for people. He puts 150% into all that he does and will not quit until his goal is accomplished. What a great and humble human being, always giving.