Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jacqui Jackson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jacqui, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
I love this question and first want to say that my parents – Rev. John and Janice Jauregui – loved us well (and continue to do so!). They also love God and placed those two relationships – with their Heavenly Father and with our family at the forefront of their professional and personal lives. They adopted both my sister, Jessica and me from Colombia, South America. Right there, recognizing that adoption is a process and the journey to find us and bring us home involved so many moving parts – it highlights the above – they loved us before they knew us. Because their faith informed pretty much every aspect of their life, the idea of a personal faith was one that both my sister and I grew into for ourselves. I say grew into our Faith – because I believe that a person’s belief system and faith are not gifted to another person by osmosis but needs to be a personal decision. Watching my parents walk out what they believed deeply in their hearts allowed me to explore my own Big feelings with a Savior, and about my need t be saved.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am grateful to wake up every day and be able to work in and walk in my calling – which is to be a Voice of Kids in Crisis – in the public square and straight to the heart of God. That is a fancy way of saying – I am a child advocate and absolutely love what I do. In 2016, my husband Jeff and I founded Ignite Hope – a child welfare organizations that works in the space of foster care, adoption, and trauma acting as a bridge between families, legislators and the local church. The transition from homeschool momma to Mama Bear in the public square was fairly organic, as I have degrees and professional experience in K-12 Education, High Education and in journalism. Additionally, being in foster care at the very beginning of my life and being an adult adoptee – I look at this space of adoption/ foster care/ Kinship care and family preservation in a holistic way because of my lived experience. We have four children – two heart babies (adoption) and two belly babies (bio) so I am grateful to look back and see God’s hand in my life crafting my story to meet the needs of His most vulnerable children.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I like this question because it allowed me to reflect on where I’ve been – academically, professionally and personally – and where I am going. Yes – I would choose the same trajectory in all areas – not because it’s been the easiest or most direct route, but because every experience has helped to shape me into the leader I am today. Further, I am expecting that as I grow in this role, everything I am putting my hand to in this season will inform my next season. I have degrees in Journalism/ Public Relations and a Masters in K-12 Education. Initially those two disciplines may appear to be disconnected; however given that my everyday job leading Ignite Hope gives me opportunities to communicate, speak, teach and train on the realities of child welfare – I am pulling from all my background in these disciplines to ensure that I am able to convey the truths about how to be a true Champion For Children in convicting and encouraging ways.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
The most helpful aspect of my personality that has given me success in this space has been my passion for kids in crisis. Children who need champions have my full heart – probably because of my origin story being born in a third world country, placed first in the orphanage and then going into foster care. When you know better you can do better – and I have walked these roads now as an adoptee, and now as an adoptive mom. Professionally, I believe the most important aspect for helping me to succeed as a Child Advocate is being a strong relationship builder Ignite Hope is designed as a Bridge Ministry – meaning that we are connectors. I need to be able to convey the needs of kids to decision makers legislatively, to the local church, and to potential donors. In order to gain entre into halls of power and into homes, I need to connect with different people, from different walks of life! Blessedly, I am an extrovert and absolutely love meeting people, hearing their stories and finding common ground. So this has been one of my favorite aspects of leading Ignite Hope.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ignitehope.online
- Instagram: jacqui.jackson.733
- Facebook: ihope4orphans
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jackson-ignite-hope
- Twitter: @ihope4orphans
Image Credits
Jacqui Jackson – Personal I will send others by separate email as for some reason uploading these pics has delayed sending you this interview. Very aprpreciative of the opportunity!