We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Veirdre Jackson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Veirdre, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

After offering a training and asking a room of early childhood educators to write one healing strategy they consistently use to take care of themselves after pouring out to high-needs children (after the pandemic) all day, I reviewed the post-it notes. One stopped me in my tracks. It simply said – ‘I don’t have anything.’ Wait… you mean this educator is pouring, caring, not getting a lunch period, consoling tantrums, and wiping tears all day, and she doesn’t come up with one thing she does for herself?! Not on my watch! I have made it my mission to offer, support, encourage, and empower educators – in this season to know and become committed to R.E.F.I.L.L.ing. These are six practical trauma-informed, brain-based approaches for healing and curating soul care (mind, emotions, and habits).

The R.E.F.I.L.L. Tribe is a haven for educators seeking solace, understanding, and rejuvenation. We understand the challenges they face and are here to uplift each other. It creates a safe space for sharing experiences and challenges, offering supportive discussions to inspire and motivate each other, and provide practical tips and resources for soul care and work-life harmony.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Dr. Veirdre Jackson, a woman who pursues her purpose, passion, and life’s priority to share my belief that all children deserve the best education available. I am an award-winning author, educator, and entrepreneur recognized as a leading educational trainer in trauma-informed practices and an ambassador for Belonging. With over 20 years of experience supporting non-profit and executive leadership, I have harnessed my passion for building organizational resilience and personal strength on behalf of youth, families, and educational professionals.

Through my experiences with system-based approaches to Trauma Awareness and Equity Literacy, the Resiliency Approach, and Positive Behavior and Intervention Strategies, I provide training, consulting, and support for parents, educators, administrators, clinicians, and youth development staff who desire to impact children from the inside out.

As the CEO/Founder of Living Strong Consulting LLC, I created this platform after surviving my own story of depression, physical illness from chronic toxic workplace stress, and a mental block of failure. I help leaders and educators prioritize their health to ensure they serve others from a place of power instead of grinding through depletion. I also serve on the executive board for Quest Trauma Healing Centers. I am a highly sought-after keynote speaker and consultant, working with organizations like Lakeside Global Institute, Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania Early Head Start, Zero to Three, and various K-12 public and charter school districts.

My commitment to leaders and organizational development is elevated through my John Maxwell Team Certification, allowing me to support leaders in sustaining growth and maintaining their mission through training, mastermind sessions, lunch & learns, and coaching.

My internet radio show and podcast on Voice America’s Empowerment Station, Spotify, and iHeart Radio entitled Living Strong: The Flip Side of Adversity reaches listeners in 75 countries with inspirational, authentic, and practical stories from lived experiences.

My books, including “16 Principles for Abundant Living” and “Fearless Conversations with a Limitless God,” provide insight into addressing challenges and empowering women. In 2024, I released “R.E.F.I.L.L.: 6 Strategies to Reconnect, Rejuvenate, & Restore The Caregivers’ Soul,” addressing the impact of being an undervalued educator.

I have been recognized for my expertise in professional development and leadership by various organizations and publications. I hold a Bachelor’s degree from Drexel University, a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Temple University, and a Doctoral Degree from Wilmington University in Leadership and Innovation. I am a wife, mother of two girls, and GiGi to my grandsons, Max and Jaxon, and granddaughter, Ceres.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2008, it had been a hard nine months, but God held my hand the entire way, even on the days I was so angry with Him that I tried to wiggle my hand out of His grip. That may be too honest for some of you, but there were days when I held on to such bitterness that all I could do was be angry and yell at God for “letting them treat me like that and get away with it.” But as I drove home on this afternoon, I reflected on how thankful I was for a God who could handle my anger; and even through the fallout from my infected emotional wound, He applied healing patience, love, consistency, and the example of a healthy relationship like an antibiotic cream from an Emotional First Aid Kit.

Prior to the healing process of those nine months, I had been hurt by people in the church, and the weapons of their unresolved past showed up in our relationship, leaving me broken, cut, and confused about my value, identity, and ability to survive. A lot of pain remained from the distorted statements such as, “If your faith were stronger, you wouldn’t be so hurt,” “If you were really faithful, you would…” and “It’s your own fault this is happening.” I remember the day I said out loud, “If this is God, I don’t need Him or them.” My pain and confusion were so heavy that it took a toll on my body, mind, emotions, and spirit. After eight years of toxic relationships, poor health, venomous messaging, and a slandered reputation riddled with unwarranted gossip, I stepped out of the church and slipped right into depression and confusion. I had run into a crisis of faith, and years of rituals and traditions did not prepare me for the battle in front of me. But none of it caught my God off guard.

He met me every morning in the recliner I used as my spot to weep. He met me on the walking path that I used to walk out the mental tapes of hurt that I played on repeat. He met me in the shower as I let my tears mix with the water and tried to drown out the hurt that throbbed through my heart and body, as I wept thinking more about death than life. With every encounter, He met me in the moment. As I battled with Him through hurt emotions, He embraced my wrestling and drew me closer to Him every day. I don’t remember how or the first day I stumbled onto the daily sermons, but the Jesus described was not the God I knew, and I became completely intrigued.

With each digital sermon and podcast message, I began to replace the broken self-talk during my morning walks. There was something about his message of an authentic, loving God that made me want to know this God more. As I look back on that time now, I see God’s hand, grace, and favor and His desire for all of us to know Him for ourselves as fortified in truth, grounded in love, and overflowing in grace. I discovered that this journey of faith is not about rituals but relationship. The Holy Spirit continued to move, and so did I. I traded my recliner for running shoes, and instead of stuffing down the pain, God helped me process every lie, hurt, and broken message that I had adopted into my belief system. He fostered a thirst for the truth found between the pages of His word and woven into the fibers of His character. It felt like I was meeting Him for the first time, and just like a brand new relationship, I made it a point to get to know Him better. With every stride on the running path, I began to shed weight that I had unknowingly been carrying and struggling with, emotionally and physically. I lost 40 pounds of physical weight I had not even realized I was carrying because the mental baggage occupied my attention. As the cloud lifted, and I received counseling spiritually and professionally, it was as though someone had removed scratched lenses that had been distorting my view on life, and for the first time, I could SEE! God had not called me to a life isolated, broken, and unwanted. My story was not done, and it was time for me to get back to living. With my mind on its way to healing, I prayed for a job that would allow every gift He had planted in me to have a place to give Him glory and restore who I needed to believe He saw me to be. It had been nine months. We wrestled. He won, and I was reborn.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.livingstrongllc.com
• Instagram: @iamdrveirdrejackson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veirdre.jackson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veirdre-jackson-ed-d-463236a7?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dr.veirdrejackson5474?si=F15RC1IcRFHypDUc
• Other: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/drveirdrejackson

Image Credits
Keith Pelzer, Photographer