It’s been a year, but we still remember Yolanda Cotterall, a tireless advocate, visionary leader and one of LEDC’s first employees, who died on March 16, 2023. She was 74.
After spending time on the West Coast and Hawaii, Yolanda’s intrepid spirit brought her to Minnesota, where she soon became an important figure in the state’s Latino community. The pride she displayed of her Chicano roots was infused with an infectiously bubbly personality and strong knowledge of business development that was the perfect match for a fledgling LEDC. She joined the team in 2004.
During her tenure at LEDC, she wore a lot of hats, but her passion for outreach and advocacy stands out. She made countless connections throughout Minnesota, helping to set up Latino markets in small towns, farming cooperatives in rural areas, and strong businesses in the Twin Cities. The Global Market that you see today on Lake Street, in fact, has its international atmosphere and entrepreneurial spirit because of Yolanda.
When the City of Minneapolis was looking to redevelop an old warehouse, officials were looking for a national retail chain to take it over. But Yolanda’s perseverance, vision and tireless work helped create a critical mass of excitement that showed city leaders that another concept was possible. As the Minneapolis tourism board says, “the market was created after local Latino business owners convinced the City that the vacant Sears building be saved and reinvented as a place to reflect the great ethnic diversity of Minneapolis. Today, over 1.5 million people visit the market every year.”
Yolanda’s legacy goes beyond the Global Market. Her day-to-day interactions with executives, clients, and the general public showcased her egalitarian nature and no-nonsense approach. The care and dedication she gave her clients have left a lasting impression both on individuals and on the state as a whole. For example, when Maria Barbosa arrived in Minnesota from Mexico, she wanted to take the state-certified cosmetology exam. The problem was that Maria didn’t speak English. Yolanda didn’t see that as an obstacle, and she tutored Maria until she passed the exam in English. To get up and running, Maria needed a loan, and Yolanda was the loan officer to help Maria secure funds to begin working. Today, Maria not only runs her own beauty salon, she owns the entire building.
Thank you, Yolanda, for your stalwart presence in the community. And although we miss your presence, your legacy lives on in the now-flourishing Latino businesses that wouldn’t have existed without your guidance. Estamos eternamente agradecidos.
