Aminah Yoba joined RestoringVision in December 2020. Aminah brings over two decades of experience working with nonprofit and for-profit entities advancing business goals and objectives and organizational development initiatives. Prior to joining RestoringVision, Aminah served as Director of Institutional and Major Gifts at Breaking Ground, a nonprofit organization working to combat homelessness in NYC, and prior to that as Development Officer at VisionSpring, Inc., a non-profit optical social enterprise. As a development professional, she secured philanthropic dollars from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government entities to meet annual funding needs and advance organizational goals and strategic objectives.
What do you enjoy most about your work at RestoringVision?
The end result of our work. Knowing people who would not otherwise access vision screenings and glasses do because of our vision programs. Topping it off, knowing their lives are instantly changed once they put them on and can see clearly the details in their world. This is priceless. I’ve witnessed the reaction of people who, for the first time, can see clearly because of glasses; this never gets old, no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Knowing I helped make someone’s life better brings me immeasurable joy.
Why is this work important to you personally?
I know firsthand how presbyopia (blurry up-close vision) impacts my days and how I can quickly resolve it with reading glasses. I know many reasons why people living in poverty don’t have the same access as I do to address this eye issue that is almost inevitable for most of us to experience as we age. For these reasons, my work at RestoringVision and our programs are very personal for me. We level the playing field by ensuring people living in poverty have equitable access to address vision issues, solvable with glasses.
Who inspires you most and why?
Anyone and everyone who is working to unlock human potential. Anyone and everyone who is a change agent for the betterment of society and the world. Why? For those working to unlock human potential, their work focuses on showing us that we are far more than we think we can be and can do far more than we believe. I love that. This type of person constantly inspires me. The change agents see the bigger picture of life and see beyond themselves. They substantially push humanity forward and set the foundation for human progress long after they are gone. People like this truly inspire me.
What are you most looking forward to in your role at RestoringVision?
Working toward being at the forefront of solving the vision crisis, not just addressing it. And, of course, engaging more philanthropic partners in our work to achieve our goal of serving ten million people annually. And working strategically with partners and others to create an implementable plan that leads to sustainable channels for accessing vision screenings and glasses for people living in poverty.
What do you do in your free time when you’re not solving the global vision crisis?
I love engaging in activities that advance my “human potential.” So, I meditate and do body work daily, etc. I surround myself with people who inspire me and encourage my growth. I like to link with people who positively impact their communities and the world. I read books and other literature geared toward human potential and work to incorporate new habits each day to support that. Last but not least, I spend time with my family and a small group of good friends I love and can be unapologetically authentic with, and who make me laugh until I cry.
