Yeli Romero

Founder & Co-Owner, Acceso VIP
Tenacity

Dedicated to enhancing community engagement and empowering individuals in West Michigan, Yeli Romero strives to bridge cultural divides and foster collaboration and inclusivity. When Romero was 19, she began struggling with alopecia universalis—total hair loss. After enduring severe bullying, Romero kept her condition hidden for years, but eventually went public and now advocates for alopecia education and support. For Romero, every tear shed, every obstacle, every setback, was a stepping stone.

As CEO of Accesso VIP, Romero actively shares resources, interviews community members, and organizes empowering events, with her and her team having supported more than 500 clients and promoted over 3,000 events. Romero also engages diverse audiences as a WYCE on-air personality; offers crucial support to business owners along Cesar E. Chavez Avenue as manager of the South West Business Association; and manages the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Farmers Market, leading marketing efforts, creating bilingual social media content and more.

Being named a finalist, Romero shared, is like receiving a warm embrace from her community. She says, “It symbolizes the struggles and triumphs of every person who has ever dared to dream big and chase those dreams relentlessly. It’s a tribute to resilience, to that inner strength that propels us forward, even when the path seems daunting.”