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by The_Bliss_Report from Metro Detroit

Last Post 42 days, 10 hours Ago


ENTREPRENEURIAL MOM RISES FROM HOMELESS AND HOPELESS TO EXUBERANT AND INSPIRING!
Jun 18, 2008 | 1:35 PM
Category: News
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Jacquelyn Rochell’s bliss glows around her like a sunburst. When she speaks and smiles and shares personal testimonies about her life’s struggles, the triumphant sparkle in her eyes makes you feel invigorated to make all your dreams come true.

You’d never guess this West Bloomfield motivator was once homeless, sleeping in her car with her four children. Or that she has survived rape and domestic abuse. Or that once, she was ready to just plain give up on life.

No, Jacquelyn exudes such positive energy and eloquent testimonials about overcoming adversity that you feel like you’ve just met your new best friend.

That’s how I felt last night, when Jacquelyn and I joined three other exuberant entrepreneurs at Detroit’s Union Street restaurant. We’re planning a fantabulous event this fall — to inspire people to seize their inner power to make their dreams come true in love, career, health and leisure.

And 43-year-old Jacquelyn is doing just that.

Several years ago, she left a bad marriage in her hometown of Mobile, Alabama. She brought her four kids to Detroit to start a new life. With little money, they slept in her car. She applied for welfare, but hated the feeling of getting a hand-out from the government. With strong faith and memories of friends, family and teachers always encouraging her to reach for the stars, Jacquelyn stayed positive—and innovative. For example, she parlayed a job at a fabrics store into a lucrative home-based business as a seamstress making dresses for proms and weddings. In a short time, she had a house for her kids, and a conversion van that she drove home to visit Alabama.

“When I rolled up in that,” she says with a million-watt smile, “everybody was like, ‘Jacquelyn hasn’t been gone a year and look at her now!’”

Teaching political science at Wayne County Community College District, running a travel agency, and writing books such as Move Beyond the Colored Line, Jacquelyn is finding her bliss — and serving as an awesome example of how we can do that, too!

You can learn more about Jacquelyn at www.myspace.com/ jacquelynrochell.

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The_Bliss_Report

Tired of bad news? Send me a good news story and I'll publish it in The Bliss Report. I’m a former Fox 2 news writer and a bestselling author. A Michigan native and downtown Detroiter, I’m an exercise and healthy eating enthusiast—after celebrating a 100-pound weight loss on Oprah! As an expert on interracial families and biracial people, I was a guest on Montel with my first book, White Chocolate.

Member Since: 4/17/2008


 

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