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From Vision to Execution: Rochelle McCallister on Creating Lasting Change · Military Broadcast Radio | MBR Talk

0:59
So that or want to not just learn, but want to.
1:05
But I think that that. Family, welcome to the motivated
1:18
Mindset. I'm your host, Jose Flores,
1:20
proud Latino, born in New York City, straight out of the Bronx
1:23
and raised in Brooklyn. That New York City flavor, that
1:26
hustle, that grit and shaped me and built me and still drives to
1:30
the local yard with everything I do.
1:31
I served 30 years in the United States Army and before we get
1:35
rolling, I want to send a powerful salute to all my
1:39
veterans, service members, first responders, listening Gracias
1:43
much respect. You already know who why.
1:46
Now in my new chapter of my life, I wear many hats other
1:49
than this cool room right here. I'm a motivation speaker, a
1:52
certified personal trainer, a certified, let's say, end of
1:56
life death doula. And this is the truth behind all
2:00
those titles. I do what I do because I'm
2:02
called to serve me gente knowing I know what struggle feels like
2:07
and I know what it means to fight for a purpose and help
2:10
other people reach theirs. And that's just something that I
2:13
really want to talk about today because life doesn't come with
2:16
instruction manuals for single parents.
2:19
That's that road can be especially challenging if you're
2:22
working, if you're raising children, if you're paying for
2:24
bills, if you're making sure everybody else is OK while
2:27
sometimes wondering me and they who's checking on me you're
2:32
you're trying to be a mom or dad provide and protect her teacher
2:36
and and counselor, cheerleader and disciplinarian and sometimes
2:40
all before breakfast, but a lot come on now while you're
2:44
carrying all that you're still expected to keep moving forward.
2:48
That's not easy me hentai and all I have, I have tremendous
2:51
respect for all the single parents up there.
2:53
Wake up every morning to look at those children, take a deep
2:55
breath and say, all right, let's do this again.
2:59
That's resilience, strength, that's love in action, but
3:03
there's something you should have to do alone.
3:06
You shouldn't have to do this alone.
3:07
Sometimes having the right support, the right resources,
3:10
the right guidance and somebody who believes in you.
3:13
And that's one of the reasons I'm so excited about the
3:16
conversation part of it that we're going to have today
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because sometime inspiring changes start would help the
3:23
people realize it's more than strength, more potential, more
3:27
possibilities, and they thought they had.
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Every day. My mission is simple to inspire,
3:31
to uplift, to challenge, to remind people that no matter
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where you start, you can redefine your life with heart,
3:37
discipline, faith, relent and relentless Dr. We exist for that
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reason, because we talk about resilience, culture, optimism,
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discipline and the courage it takes to keep pushing when life
3:49
takes that swing at you hard and we keep it real.
3:51
Help people New York City real 0 sugar coating and you're going
3:54
to laugh, you're going to reflect, you might even get
3:56
fired up. You might even shed a tear,
3:58
right. But one thing I promise you, you
4:00
will leave here stronger than when you press that play button,
4:03
because this isn't just about motivation.
4:06
It's about I'm going to say it's a transformation.
4:08
And and one last thing before before we get started.
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I I want to, I want to share with you if, if you, if you
4:14
vibe, what what you hear today, if this conversation inspires
4:17
you, if you appreciate the interviews, the energy, Jerry, I
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have one favor support the YouTube channel.
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Hit that that screen that subscribe, take AQR code with
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meaningful conversation and purpose driven contact.
4:42
All right, people, let's get into this.
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You know, we're going to make it happen because it's this is what
4:48
it what it's all about. And today's guest I'm welcoming
4:52
is a true leader. And her name is Rochelle
4:55
McAllister and Rochelle is the owner of Inspiring Change
5:00
enterprise. We had been she's an
5:02
organizational development consultant, life strategy coach,
5:06
and certified peer recovery specialist.
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And when we talk about vision to action, she builds A sustainable
5:15
success. For more than 14 years, Rochelle
5:17
has been the founder of Single Parent Achievers, an
5:20
organization dedicated to strengthening and empowering
5:24
families and building strong families for generations to
5:27
come. And that is important because
5:30
when you strengthen a parent, MI gente, you can strengthen an
5:34
entire family. Rochelle also serves as the
5:36
First Lady of Legacy Christian Center, leading with faith,
5:39
compassion and purpose. But Rochelle's greatest legacy
5:43
begins in la Casa at home. She and her husband have built a
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beautiful blended family. Me gente nueve, 9 children, 8
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grandchildren. Now that's a house.
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So when Rochelle talks about families, parenting, legacy,
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generation impact, she's not talking about theory me genta.
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She is living it. And today we're going to talk
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about the realities and challenges facing single
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parents. We're going to talk about
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strengthening families, turning vision into action, faith,
6:13
purpose and creating a legacy. The last beyond us.
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We're going to talk about what happens when life doesn't go
6:18
according to plan. And now you, you're going to get
6:21
up, you're going to get fired up and build up.
6:24
So I want to welcome Rochelle to the show.
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So let's make this happen, Cap. The interview of the week is
6:34
brought to you by Jersey Mike's A Sum above.
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Welcome Rochelle to the motivated mindset.
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How you doing, ma'am? I am absolutely wonderful and I
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absolutely love your energy. You have motivated me to
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continue to do exactly what you have called me here to do on
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today. So thank you, thank you, thank.
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You no, it it's a blessing and well, you know, and ladies and
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gentlemen, I want to say thank you for being here.
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And what we want to know is, before everything, who is
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Rochelle? Where you from, how you were
7:07
raised, ma'am? I was born in Texas, so I was
7:13
born in Texas to my amazing mother and father and I'm so
7:17
very thankful that I was born in Texas.
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But I am a woman of God first. First and foremost, I'm a woman
7:22
of God. I am a wife, as you have already
7:25
stated in my bio. You know, I love being a mother
7:29
of a blended family of nine children and having 8
7:32
grandchildren. And I want you guys to know that
7:35
my name for grandma because everyone wants to put another
7:38
spin on grandmother, but mines is Grandma Ma.
7:41
So I love the fact that I am a Grandma Ma as well.
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I love who it is that I am. I love inspiring change in the
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life of others. I believe that that is my brand
7:51
and who God has called me to be. So I've just always believed
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that I don't know, I just that's who I am, That is who I am.
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I love to inspire change in the life of others.
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And so that is what I believe that God has truly put me on
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earth to do is to inspire change.
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No matter what circumstance I have found myself in.
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I believe that inspiring change is what we should do when we
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make it to the other side. So that's who Rochelle is, a
8:17
woman that loves the Lord. Thank you for that.
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Faith is so important. I'm glad you you shared that.
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And while you was growing up, did you have any mentors,
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anybody you really looked up that help form the person you
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are today? I believe that my mom was truly
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a inspiration in my life. She was a woman that really made
8:36
me feel safe, seen and supported in everything that I did.
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You know, getting pregnant at the age of 16.
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She just really knew how to be a support to not make me feel like
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I was defeated, but made me understand that I could survive
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no matter what situation came my way.
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And I believe that that was the first thing that I learned how
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to be a survivor at is getting pregnant at the age of 16 years
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old and having the support from my mom.
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So my mother was a great support to me.
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Wow, that yeah, I think people fell.
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And the Lord, and the Lord and. The Lord, yes, yes, get out
9:09
here. Thank you for that.
9:10
No, absolutely. We have a question from Yvonne
9:13
from Puerto Rico, and she said, what moment in your life sparked
9:17
your desire to inspire, to inspire changing others?
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I think after you go through traumatic situations in life
9:28
when you go through things that my life abruptly changed after
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being married in my first marriage for over 10 years.
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And he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, which left me to
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raise my four children or our four children without their
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father. And from there, I just did not
9:42
want to be a statistic to society.
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And so I believe that in that moment, the brand that I see now
9:51
as inspiring change became that moment when I realized that her
9:58
question was that was a very good question.
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Like I think that's when it came into my life, You know, just
10:03
going through what it is that I went through, the traumatic
10:05
things that I went through in life.
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It just made me want to not be a statistic and most definitely
10:11
inspire changing life of others. Just helping to you know how I
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made it through? Show others that you know God is
10:18
not a respect of God, that He do it for me and not do it for you.
10:20
So let's not sit and let certain circumstances cause us to sit
10:25
still on what it is that we call to do.
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We all have an assignment. Wow.
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And Wanda from DC said thank you for sharing your story.
10:34
My question is, how do you lead others to change when they're
10:38
afraid to move forward? Well, we got to get to a place
10:43
of not being stuck, but I also think that it's community.
10:46
I think community is very important.
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Something that I learned early on from my godmother is that you
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cannot, you have to stay connected to community and not
10:55
isolate. So in order for you to move
10:57
forward, I think that it's very important for you to be around
11:00
the right people, have your right power, circle of influence
11:04
that you can have around you to motivate you to move forward.
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So I believe community is very, very, very, very important.
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I, I remember when I was when I served in the military, you
11:16
know, having my, my tribe, as I call it, those people that I can
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go to and, and not always tell me what I wanted to hear, but
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what I needed to hear and being there to support.
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And that that is so, so important.
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And, you know, when we talk about inspiring change, that was
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your mission, you know, creating an impact, you know, leaving an
11:36
imprint. When did that become more than
11:38
Come on, say these, say a phrase that actually became your life's
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assignment. You know, as I begin to reflect
11:45
on my life as a woman, my life abruptly changed again, you
11:52
know, after being in a government agency for 18 years.
11:56
And I was there for 18 years and it all ended in a short period
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of time, you know, and with that being said, I just, you know, I,
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I want to share this part 'cause I think that it's important.
12:07
And I and I talk about 3 days, three days.
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My husband had an accident on April the 5th and on April the
12:17
8th I lost my job. So therefore in three days,
12:23
everything in my natural eye was like, wow, how do I pay my
12:28
mortgage? How do I do the things that I
12:30
need to do in order to continue? Because everything just kind of
12:34
went all at one time. But instead of thinking in that
12:37
way, I pretty much start reflecting on different things
12:42
that were happening in my life that that had happened in my
12:45
life. And I was like, you know, yes,
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all of those things have happened, but my life isn't
12:53
over. I'm still living, I'm still
12:54
breathing. And all of a sudden inspiring
12:58
change enterprise, it was a, it was a, a company that already
13:02
had, but it's important for us to stay ready so that you don't
13:05
have to get ready. And I believe that in the 18
13:08
years that I was there and in three days, how it all changed,
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I felt like I was partially ready because I already had the
13:15
company. But what happened is it just
13:18
took it and it went full force. And my company that I've had for
13:22
a little over a year, I've been self-employed for a year.
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So I believe that that's when it became a very important thing to
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me about inspiring change because it's so much change
13:30
happening in the world today. So it's like my company, even
13:34
though I had it since 22, it just pretty much in those three
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days, it just launched out to be what it is that God has called
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it to be. So that's where inspiring change
13:43
became a big thing to me. When life changes, that doesn't
13:47
mean that you can't change with it and flow away the way that
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the Lord intends for you to flow.
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Again, I stated earlier, we all have an assignment, we all have
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an assignment. And for me, I just switched the
13:57
assignment. I went from a government agency
13:59
to being self-employed. But the one thing that I did not
14:02
forget who was leading me and guided me every day.
14:05
And that is, you know, Christ, you know, just I'm, I'm, I'm
14:09
just following the path that he has for me and it is divinely
14:12
already orchestrated for me. So I rather stay on that path.
14:16
And that's when Inspiring Change Enterprise became a huge
14:19
statement for me as I reflect on my past life and this is what
14:24
gave me what I have today. Amen, Rochelle, Amen.
14:27
Following that path, yes. And that is that is stripped
14:31
spot on. And we have another question
14:33
from Mike in Marilyn. And he said, he said, what
14:37
change do you want to see in your community and how are you
14:41
actively building? Well, I'm actually building it
14:45
by having a single parent, single Parent Achievers, which
14:49
is a nonprofit organization that's dedicated to improving
14:52
single parents quality of life. You know, that's the way that
14:55
I'm helping with not allowing the situations that I've been to
15:00
through to, well, the situations that I've been through to define
15:04
me. I've found a way to really just
15:07
really make sure that my life can still make an imprint in
15:10
people's lives. And so I think single parent
15:13
achievements is a way that I support in our community and
15:17
then also with, you know, legacy Christian Center, which is our
15:21
church where it's transforming lives through the gospel of
15:24
Jesus Christ. And then also just making sure
15:26
that we're building faith in people and helping to build
15:30
family and also helping to build legacy.
15:32
So those are some of the ways that I do certain things, but I,
15:36
I, I love God's people. And so I love to inspire change
15:40
in their lives with my testimony.
15:42
Thank you so much for that. We have a question from Liz from
15:46
Brooklyn that says what are the first steps a single parent
15:49
should talk to move from survival mode to thriving mode?
15:54
Well, you got to 1st get out of the isolation.
15:56
You got to get out of the isolation and feeling that
15:59
you're alone because you're not, you're not alone.
16:02
You know, there are many people that have been through what I've
16:04
been through, not my same story because I am unique and we're
16:07
all unique, right? We're all unique.
16:11
But I think that it's so very important to just really come
16:16
out of isolation. There is something in our world
16:20
that can help you be whom it is that God has called you to
16:22
become and so or or to be. I'm sorry.
16:25
And so just work on becoming that every day.
16:28
So I hope I answered that question.
16:31
Did I answer that question? Yeah, I don't know if Liz she.
16:34
Has What did Liz say again? She.
16:36
Said yes. Liz said yes.
16:38
Yeah, like the first step is to come out of isolation so that
16:42
you can survive. We need people in life, but we
16:46
first need God. But we most definitely need the
16:49
people that have that are in alignment with what it is that
16:52
we've been called to do. So yeah, I think come out of
16:57
isolation there. There's a community awaiting you
17:00
that need your gifts and your talents as well to make a
17:03
difference in the lives of others.
17:05
And so, yeah, coming out of isolation, that's the first
17:07
step. OK, yeah.
17:09
And I and she said yes, you were able to answer it.
17:13
And before I answer the next question, I have a question.
17:16
Rochelle, you describe yourself as someone who gonna say, say
17:20
helps people create structure systems and sustainability.
17:26
What are what are the three things?
17:27
Why are those three things so important?
17:29
If anything, you know what kind of systems are in place, if
17:32
anything, for what you do man. You know, been an event planner
17:35
for so long, I've planned events for so long.
17:38
I I've retired from that, but I've, I've just learned that I
17:41
need structure to not be insane. I need structure in my life.
17:46
And because the Lord has given me the opportunity to have such
17:49
great structure in my life, that's how my company is formed
17:54
so that we can have the right, if you have the right structure
17:58
and the right systems, you can have sustainability.
18:01
And that's not just in your business, that's not just in
18:04
your personal life. We all need structure.
18:07
And if you don't have it, your foundation isn't solid.
18:10
And so creating that for individuals to help businesses
18:13
that are starting out, I work with small businesses from, you
18:18
know, if you just started business into one year, I can
18:21
help make sure that your foundation is strong by making
18:25
sure that you have the proper structure system for
18:28
sustainability, that that's what we need.
18:30
And I need that in my life to not be at a place where I'm not
18:33
at peace or where I feel insane because there's too many things
18:37
going on and happening around me that I can't function, I can't
18:40
focus. So I need those things for me.
18:42
And so I make sure that I have learned how to give that to
18:47
someone else as well. Cool.
18:49
And and a question, yes ma'am. And a question we have is who
18:54
can join single parents Achievers and is there an
18:57
application process or membership requirement and this
19:01
is from a military spouse in Texas?
19:03
Yes. For me, for the nonprofit
19:06
organization that I have, you pretty much just can be a single
19:10
parent, whether you're male or female, you can be a part of the
19:14
single parent Achievers organization.
19:16
We also let me let me finish that question and I have
19:19
something else to share as well. Yes, ma'am.
19:21
Absolutely. It's a $30 fee that you pay per
19:25
month. The application is online.
19:28
There is information that's gonna be shown at the end of the
19:31
presentation that you can join and sign up at single Parent
19:35
achievers.org. You can go to the website and
19:39
anyone that is a single parent can be a part of this
19:41
organization. If you are a grandmother like a
19:44
grandma Ma or you are auntie mom or it doesn't matter.
19:48
Making sure that you have the skills to raise your children is
19:52
what the main focus is. And so anyone that is a parent
19:57
or operating as a figure for parent, you can be a part of
20:01
this organization to come in and get the resources that we have.
20:04
We have monthly meetings every second Saturday of the month,
20:07
and we meet and we come together and we work on different
20:11
workshops so that we can. Work on life skills and things
20:14
like that to be who it is that we've been called to be as well.
20:17
So I hope I answered that as well.
20:19
That's how you go about doing. I think you.
20:23
Did. But I I do want to say one more
20:25
thing. Yes, of course.
20:25
Of course. So we just formed another part
20:28
of the organization and it's legacy parenting, building
20:33
strong families for generations and at one time for 14 years, it
20:37
was most definitely important for me to have single parent
20:40
achievers and it still is. But right now we all need the
20:44
skills that have been presented to the ladies in our
20:47
organization for the last 14 years.
20:50
We all need those skills. And so now we have legacy
20:53
parenting that now focus on family.
20:56
And so, and making sure that you have those different skill sets.
20:59
And we do a lot of different workshops on like the power of
21:02
forgiveness. We you know, how to access your
21:06
power circle, how to deal with generational cycles.
21:10
We do a lot of different workshops.
21:11
So please, you know, not going to be a part of our community
21:14
because we have a large community with great
21:16
transformation in their lives. That is beautiful.
21:19
That's beautiful, and we have the spouse from Tech Safe.
21:23
Can someone outside of your area join?
21:27
Anyone can join the organization.
21:29
We do have online classes as well and we do have them in
21:33
person. So I live in Maryland, so the
21:36
classes and workshops that we have are in person, but for the
21:40
ones that are online, we do Monday Mom Master classes and we
21:44
work on that by doing the same workshops.
21:46
We do it like in six to eight week courses so that you can
21:50
still get that information, it's just accelerated so anyone can
21:53
join. So you would just kind of like
21:55
just fill out the information online line and then we will
21:59
direct you to the right resource for where you are?
22:02
Excellent, excellent. To make sure there's another,
22:04
let me see a good question and we have one last question.
22:08
We're going to do a, we'll take a commercial break after this
22:12
question and we and I'll talk about when we come back, but we
22:15
have Gladys from Puerto Rico that says what daily habit or
22:19
routine keeps your own mindset motivated and focused.
22:23
And I think the question is directed to you, Rochelle.
22:26
So great question. What daily habit or routine
22:29
keeps my mindset motivated and focused?
22:33
My assignment, my, my assignment is, is is is clear.
22:37
Again, as I stated, I am a woman of God.
22:40
I'm a wife, I'm a mother of a blended family, a grandmother.
22:43
Those are the that's my why. That's what keeps me focused,
22:46
making sure that I can leave a legacy for them.
22:48
How can I be a great example to them?
22:51
And that's what drives me everyday.
22:53
My family drives me constantly to be the best version of
22:58
myself, be so that I can be that example, so that they can, you
23:02
know, learn and grow and become who it who it is that God has
23:06
called them to be. That is stupendous.
23:09
Yeah, go ahead, Michelle. I'm sorry.
23:12
That's what drives me, my family, God and and my family
23:15
drives me and working in the community to inspire change, to
23:18
see people's lives change from, you know, hurting to now been in
23:22
a place where they've been transformed and they're doing
23:24
different things to to just be great.
23:29
That's beautiful. Oh.
23:31
My God, we can be great if we just make the decision to just
23:35
believe that we can be great, just be great.
23:39
Yes, absolutely. Ladies and gentlemen, we're
23:42
going to take a quick break and during the break, if you have
23:44
any questions that you want to put to Rochelle, please, you
23:47
know, put them in in that chat. And when we come back, Rochelle,
23:51
we'll talk about faith, how important faith is and what you
23:54
do and any questions on that. So we'll be right back.
23:59
Awesome. The station where our veterans
27:28
voices are heard. MBR talk.
27:31
Hey, thanks for supporting our channel by watching and
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listening find. Us on the web at MB Radio dot.
27:39
Welcome back, Rachelle. All right.
27:41
Hello. Did you like that song?
27:44
That's my favorite song. I love all of it, the duck and
27:48
just, you know, everything. I love it all, the song and all.
27:51
Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome.
27:54
Before we went on break, I, I wanted to talk about how your
27:58
faith is important and how that's driven you with your
28:01
business and everything. And we can, you know, wanted to
28:04
talk about that. Anything you want to you want to
28:06
say about that and why people why it's important, ma'am?
28:09
You know, I, I think I've said it throughout the entire time
28:15
being on this amazing podcast that I'm so thankful to be a
28:18
part of Mr. Jose Flores and inviting me to be a part of
28:25
this. The faith is like my main.
28:28
That's what drives me. My faith drives me.
28:31
I do believe that I'm in divine alignment with what it is that
28:34
God has called me to do, and that has not always been clear.
28:39
But through my maturity in Christ, I can truly believe that
28:46
I am in alignment with everything that I am doing.
28:49
From single parent achievers to legacy Christian Center to
28:54
Inspiring change enterprise, All of those things are in alignment
28:59
with my faith. And so my faith is everything.
29:03
I mean, I think I've spoken about faith throughout this
29:06
entire time that we've been on and it's what drives me every
29:11
day. It took me some time to, you
29:13
know, surrender, you know my all, you know, But I'm in a
29:19
place where I've completely embraced the call upon my life.
29:21
And I do believe, as I stated, everything that I do is in
29:25
alignment with what it is that he would have me to do here on
29:29
this earth and in the community. So thank you, but that's that's
29:33
awesome. We actually have a question from
29:35
Joshua in Chicago and he said the Bible says and excuse me for
29:40
if Ephesians, am I saying that correctly?
29:44
Ephesians. Ephesians.
29:45
Thank you, thank you. I know I it's my New York
29:48
accent. I'm sorry, Ephesians 2 tenses
29:52
For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do
29:58
good works. It means God created you with
30:00
intention and purpose, shaping you uniquely to carry out
30:03
meaningful work that impacts others.
30:06
Yeah, yeah, I, I just, I believe that when you look at clay, if
30:11
you look at clay. How?
30:13
Shaped and mold and every experience that we go through is
30:18
shaping and molding us to be who God has called us to be and to
30:23
go on the assignment that we're supposed to go on.
30:25
And one thing that I will say about my faith is that I know
30:29
that I wasn't saved to sit. I know that that, that, that,
30:34
that Jesus himself did not, you know, walk around and making
30:39
sure I, I don't want to go far off into faith in that way.
30:43
But let's just say that I just believe that when we look at
30:47
clay like he's he's, he's molded us to do something.
30:51
He's molded us to go on an assignment to do his will.
30:55
And so for me, I feel that I'm in great alignment with that and
30:58
that scripture is very important.
31:01
We are a masterpiece and we have gifts and we have talents and He
31:05
wants us to make sure that we are using those to be a treasure
31:08
to His Kingdom. And so for me as a woman that
31:13
believe in the Lord, I was not saved to sit, I was saved to
31:18
serve. And so that is my assignment
31:20
every day is to serve every day God's people.
31:26
No, thank you for sharing that. And I, I, I, you've been married
31:30
for more than 11 years and you've built a, a blended
31:34
family. What does it take to build unity
31:37
when everybody comes from different backgrounds and
31:40
experiences? Now that's a real, that's a
31:45
really, really good one. That's a very, very good
31:48
question. You know, what would be the best
31:52
way that I can say this? I would say that you have to be
32:00
united when it comes to family. And I think that yes, I've been
32:07
married for 11 years, known my husband for 31 years, but been
32:12
married for 11 years in my second marriage.
32:15
And I want to say something first about how to keep the
32:17
marriage first together before you can get to the blend your
32:21
family together. And so for my husband and I, we
32:27
really focus on creating family things for ourselves.
32:33
For the first seven years of our lives, we focused on, you know,
32:36
a continuous flow of love. How can I just make sure that I
32:41
have a continuous flow of love with you so that that can flow
32:44
on to the blended family that we have, you know, being kind and
32:48
handling each other with care. When you get that, that's for
32:52
the relationship, like just here in the heart of your mate, you
32:56
can keep that solid. Then let's talk about the
32:59
blended family. And I think with the blended
33:01
family is just really learning how to build trust because it's
33:05
two sides coming from different places.
33:09
So you want to make sure that you formulate that united front
33:12
by building trust, learning to listen so that you understand,
33:17
you got to learn to listen. And with our maturity, we have
33:21
truly, my husband and I have truly learned to listen, to
33:24
understand, to you have to also come in and make sure that
33:28
you're establishing great boundaries for blended families.
33:32
Again, because it's two sides coming together and you got to
33:37
nurture it. You have to, you have to nurture
33:40
it. And I believe that that's what
33:42
helped us formulate unity in our blended family of nine kids and
33:48
you know, 8 grandkids and all the different personalities and,
33:54
and all of those things. But you got to 1st build a
33:55
relationship so that you can get to that place.
33:59
That's absolutely correct you. Said marriage 1st and then, you
34:06
know, putting the marriage, you know the marriage is so
34:09
important because you know you're already coming in and
34:13
you're bringing two families together.
34:14
All. Different.
34:16
And so I just to sum it up, I just feel that you build trust
34:20
and learn how to listen and make sure that you establish those
34:23
right boundaries when you first come in and that helps you
34:27
develop unity. Yeah, by nurturing all the
34:31
relationships. That is stupendous.
34:35
I love it. I love it.
34:37
That makes so much sense, right? And we have a question and it
34:41
says how has the growth and impact of SPA changed and
34:46
impacted you over the 14 years of existence?
34:49
And this came from Tia in Maryland.
34:52
How has it shaped me? How has my for SPA impact impact
34:58
me over the last 14 years? It really made me see myself.
35:02
You know, I literally being a single mom of four children and
35:08
having to raise them single, single, single handedly in the
35:12
natural because I wasn't alone. But you know, in many moments I
35:16
felt that. And so with Single Print
35:18
Achievers, it gave me a community where as I grew and as
35:22
I healed, the started this program before I had before I
35:29
had healed, but I think that we're continuously be healing
35:32
every day. You know, I think that we should
35:34
always be in a posture of becoming.
35:36
And so for single parent of Cheers, I believe that it really
35:38
helped me to really, as I, as the Lord would teach me
35:44
something, he taught me first to teach someone else.
35:49
So maybe that's it. I feel like I was learning and
35:53
as I learned, I taught it and I taught it by getting through it.
35:58
And as I made it through, I was able to teach it to someone else
36:01
so that they could have the transformation that I had as
36:04
well. I hope that that answers the
36:06
question as well. OK, yeah, I know.
36:09
And, and, and as I dovetailed behind it, you know, what legacy
36:14
of change do you, Rochelle, you hope to leave behind?
36:18
This is from Yvette in Virginia. Yeah, I think the legacy that I
36:23
want to leave behind is I want I, this is very profound.
36:28
I want to live to leave a legacy.
36:32
I want to live to leave. That means I need to be an
36:35
example every day trying to make sure my character is right, try
36:40
to make sure my reputation is right.
36:43
Like I am making sure that in everything that I do, I am being
36:48
guided by God's word. His word gives us instructions
36:53
every day. And I try to make sure that
36:55
anything that is contrary to his word that I work on it.
36:59
And I think that that's what's going to help me live to leave a
37:02
legacy that that my family can look to and say, my mother was
37:07
willing to listen to my hurt and answer it with not just how I
37:16
feel, but listening to how my children felt.
37:21
So I just want to make sure that the legacy that I leave, I leave
37:25
a legacy by listening and caring for others.
37:30
I want to know that there was no stranger.
37:32
There is no stranger to me, you know, And I don't want there to
37:37
be a stranger to anyone that I have contact with.
37:40
Like there's no stranger to me. And I want to make sure that my
37:44
family know that whatever seat is given to you, take the seat.
37:51
Don't ever feel like whatever it is that you don't feel like you
37:54
have, you have everything that you need.
37:56
You just, you just need to make sure that it is awakened in you
37:59
and, and, and, and being a part of community can help you find
38:02
that. So for me live, I want to live
38:06
to leave a legacy for my family. And I want to make sure that in
38:10
everything that I do, I am living according to God's word
38:16
so that people can glean from that from me.
38:19
That's a very hard question. That's a very, very hard
38:22
question. When it comes to legacy, I, I
38:24
think that I just want to live to leave a legacy.
38:27
I want to plant good seeds so that it may harvest good harvest
38:33
well. I want to make sure that I have
38:36
a good name. You know, when someone says
38:39
Rochelle McAllister, they're just like, oh, she's always
38:42
smiling. Pray for you.
38:46
She'll tarry with you in a situation that you're in.
38:49
You know, she will love you, you know, and share her testimony
38:55
with you about how she made it through and let you know that
39:00
you're not in this, you know, alone.
39:02
So I hope that that be what people see, that the same way my
39:07
mother made me feel, she made me feel safe, seen and supported, I
39:10
want others that connected to me to feel safe, seen and
39:14
supported. So I hope that that's what my
39:16
family feels. I hope that's what my children
39:18
feel. I hope that's what the Single
39:20
Parent Achievers organization feels.
39:22
I hope that that's what everyone feels for me.
39:24
They feel a smile, you know, they feel connected.
39:29
But I feel it from you. I just, I just met ya.
39:31
I said this is I'm like, yes. These are questions.
39:38
These are hard questions. No, but you know.
39:40
But you answer it, you know it. They'll put a song from the
39:43
heart. And it makes perfect sense to me
39:45
in the audience. No, that is and.
39:48
And Candace says we love you. Oh.
39:51
I love you guys too. I love everyone.
39:53
They love you. That is so profound.
39:56
Thank you. That is so I I will share real
39:59
quick when my son was younger, a teenager, young man.
40:04
I, I, I told him one time I said you will never see a U-Haul
40:06
behind a hearse. He didn't quite get it.
40:08
He didn't quite get it at the time until he had his son.
40:12
Now, look, Rochelle, my son lives in Hawaii, so he must have
40:16
forgot what time he went us. So he calls me at 3:00 in the
40:19
morning. I said, really, dude, you
40:21
calling me? And he said that I got it.
40:23
I said, what did you get son legacy, EU Haul story you told
40:27
me. I said yes, that's it.
40:30
He got it. Would you just Absolutely.
40:32
Absolutely. That's it.
40:34
It's very, very important and I think that that's why inspiring
40:38
change is so important to me because it really helps people
40:42
believe that change is possible. Yes.
40:45
You know, like it's like, yes, I've been through some
40:48
challenging things. Like when I think about impact,
40:51
it's like, you know, in everything that we've been
40:54
through, whatever the challenges are, how, how do we make a
40:59
difference in people with what it is that we've been?
41:01
Can we inspire changing the lives of, of people and how can
41:07
we make an impact? And everything that I do and
41:09
everything that I say, I want to make sure that I'm leaving an
41:11
impact. Yes, yes.
41:14
I've got to be mindful of what I say, mindful of what I do
41:17
because I want to leave and imprint in their lives.
41:21
I want to impact them. I want to inspire change.
41:24
Maybe that's what my legacy is. My legacy is just that wanting
41:28
to inspire change. I want to create impact and I
41:31
want to make sure that in everything that I do, I leave an
41:35
imprint. That's that's what I want to do.
41:38
OK, and with that being said, people want to know how how they
41:42
can get involved. So I'm gonna bring up some
41:44
information and I'll we'll bring it up and you can explain and
41:47
we'll just go from there. Ma'am, All you ma'am.
41:50
Awesome so right now for single print achievers, single print
41:54
achievers, as I stated, nonprofit organization dedicated
41:56
to improving single parents quality of life membership.
42:00
We've spoken about that. Please join us on our website
42:04
and you can member of Single Print Achievers or even join us
42:08
in the community to support us with your donations and all of
42:11
those things because what we're doing is we're changing lives
42:14
and making sure that it's reciprocal, that it's not just
42:16
for the parent, but it's for the child as well.
42:18
We have our back to school backpack Tribe backpack drive
42:23
that's getting ready to come up on the 22nd of August and we
42:27
still need backpacks and things like that for our students.
42:31
We have about 400 people that's going to be coming to our
42:34
backpack drive on August the 22nd.
42:37
We also have, is there anything else I was supposed to talk
42:40
about about that? OK, no worries.
42:43
Eligibility right here. You know anyone, anyone that has
42:48
a child, you are more than welcome to be a part of this
42:51
organization. And like where it says you, are
42:56
you a joint custodial parent? Like you could be a auntie, a
42:59
grandmother, it doesn't matter. We want you to be a part of this
43:03
community to help you on your journey right here.
43:08
This is something that's near and dear to me and single parent
43:11
achievers. It's called our drive to Thrive
43:13
award. This is something that's in
43:15
honor of my mother because my mother was such a great imprint
43:19
in my life. And so for that, I have an award
43:23
to make sure that, you know, she's no longer with us.
43:27
And it's been about 14 years and my mother hasn't been here, but
43:30
she made an imprint in my life by making sure that I felt safe,
43:33
seen and supported. And what I do with this award is
43:35
just make sure that as she resides in me, her love can
43:39
reside in others to let them know that no matter what you're
43:42
going through, that triumph experience, you can make it
43:45
through OK. That's the Drive to Thrive
43:48
award. We do community outreach stuff.
43:51
I've already talked about that. Our one thing that we have
43:53
coming up right now is going to be our back to school backpack
43:56
drive. But not only that, we have
43:58
another event that's coming up where I'm going to be.
44:00
Well, the life of single parents journeys many different people,
44:05
Not just me, but there's so many people out here that have a
44:08
story about single parenting. And so we have a stage play
44:13
that's getting ready to come on October the 3rd.
44:18
It's going to be at the Slayton Theatre in Columbia, MD, and
44:22
that's going to be a part of our fundraiser as well.
44:24
We're going to put out in the community what it is that we do
44:27
so that people know that they are not alone.
44:30
OK. And here we really, we really
44:35
need community, we need community, we need volunteers.
44:38
We just want to make sure that we can give people a hand up and
44:41
not a hand down. But we also understand how
44:43
important it is with single parents.
44:45
It's like a lot of times they just don't have enough.
44:47
And so we want to make sure that they have more than enough.
44:50
So your support means everything to us.
44:51
So please connect with us on any of our platforms to be a part of
44:56
it at single parent achievers.org and our carriers,
45:00
which is single parent Achievers as well on Instagram and also
45:03
Facebook. And that's how you join that
45:07
forum is online where you can go there, you can fill that
45:09
information out and just become a part of our community as well.
45:17
And here this is huge IA lot of times did not have the
45:22
necessities of life, like taking trips and things like that.
45:26
You know, once my, you know, once my life kind of shifted and
45:29
became a single mom. And so this right here is
45:31
something very important to me. It's called the Single Parent
45:34
Achiever of the Year, where we honor one single parent every
45:38
year and we asked them in the beginning to write down what it
45:42
is that they want. And so single parent achievers
45:45
make those things come alive in our program.
45:48
So each one of those ladies that you see there, each one of them
45:51
have received something from us where their dreams and desires
45:54
have became a reality. And so we do that because of
45:57
sponsors like those that are online and those that donate to
46:00
us. We do that and help others make
46:04
their dream become a reality and here, this is how you follow us
46:09
and you see the stage play right there when life gets loud.
46:12
Yes, life gets loud, but at the end of the day, no matter what
46:16
struggle you find yourself in, there is a community out here
46:19
and Single Parent Achievers is a community that you can be a part
46:23
of and join us. You know, we are, we are ready
46:28
to welcome you in to be a part of this community.
46:30
And even like I said, if you want to volunteer, that's more
46:33
than you're welcome to volunteer as well.
46:35
We also have stories that you can share about your life.
46:38
If you are married and you want to share stories and things like
46:40
that, you can do that as well. So please join us on any of our
46:43
platforms. This is how you connect Single
46:48
Parent achievers.org. This is how you connect to our
46:52
platform here, Single Parent achievers.org.
46:56
You know, visit the website, see all of the things that you just
46:59
saw. I'm so thankful that Mister Jose
47:01
put all of this together to make sure that nothing was missed
47:04
through our conversation. Oh wait, wait wait.
47:10
So the book inspired my SO the title in this book is gracefully
47:17
broken because I was gracefully broken.
47:20
But guess what? Gracefully broken so that I may
47:24
you when you read this, you are inspired by the stories that are
47:27
in this book. It is a anthology, Am I saying
47:30
it right, where it's in here that's inspired by love.
47:35
So please, if you want a copy of this book, you can go on to
47:39
singleprintedcheers.org and you would be able to find this.
47:42
And this book was put together as a collaborative by Doctor Don
47:46
Harvey. And I'm so thankful that my
47:48
story is there about being gracefully broken.
47:51
And before I go to the next slide, Delana Watkins said.
47:55
Rochelle, thank you for the amazing work your organization
47:59
is doing. SPA impacts families and
48:02
communities. You are living a legacy.
48:05
Aw, thank you. That is I I thank you so much,
48:09
Delana. I truly appreciate those kind
48:11
words. She is someone that is in my
48:13
life that is walk with me on this journey and I'm so very
48:16
thankful to have her in my life. So thank you guys.
48:19
And, and and Candace said it's a great organization.
48:22
And we have another comment from I'm going to make sure I'm
48:25
saying Elise, Elise saying yes, Rochelle has been a blessing to
48:30
my life. Personally, I love my spa
48:33
family. I.
48:35
Love that thank you guys so much thank you so much all of them
48:39
all. I have so much love and I'm so.
48:41
Very. And it's evident, Rochelle, it
48:43
is so evident. You are a legacy.
48:46
You're living it, ma'am. Thank you for sharing this
48:49
today. And we got, I think one more
48:50
slide, ma'am. Here you go.
48:52
So here at Legacy Christian Center, where we're transforming
48:55
lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ, where we're
48:58
building faith, building family. So it's building faith, building
49:03
family and legacy. And so it's so very important to
49:08
be a part of the community that you can pour into.
49:11
And Legacy Christian Center is a place that you can come and get
49:13
your spirit fed every Sunday, every Wednesday.
49:17
But it doesn't stop there, Pastor James and I, our life is
49:21
that of service. And you said that in the
49:23
beginning, Mr. Jesus, you said that José José, you said José
49:30
José, you said that in the beginning that your life is
49:32
called to serve. And so my life is called to
49:35
serve. And so I'm so very thankful that
49:37
we have Legacy Christian Center. So please join us there.
49:39
There's AQR code there for you to join.
49:42
And, and I'll keep this and this one just got emotional for me.
49:44
You have, you have a, you have a, you have a comment that says,
49:49
mommy, I'm so proud of you. I love you so much, Tyler.
49:54
Oh my God, that is stupendous. My, my family, Oh my, my
49:59
children, they were the purest of love for me on my journey of
50:03
triumph. They were the purest of joy.
50:06
They were the purest of everything in my life.
50:09
And so I'm so very thankful to be their mother.
50:11
I'm so very thankful. And I love you, Taylor Hall for
50:15
being such an amazing daughter. All of my children are me
50:18
amazing and right now my grandson is getting ready to go
50:21
through surgery. So just keep him in your prayers
50:25
while his while his grandma is here recording.
50:28
I just want you to know that when you look at this, I am
50:31
still thinking of you as you are going through what you're going
50:33
through right now in Jesus name. Amen.
50:37
Absolutely Amen. And as we as we as we get ready
50:41
to close down Rochelle, I have and I'm gonna let you have the
50:45
last word. But one of the things event said
50:49
as a question if if listeners remember 1 message from you,
50:54
what should it be? One message, leave an imprint.
51:02
Leave an imprint. Make sure that in everything
51:04
that you do something that you did, something that you said.
51:10
Make sure that you are leaving an imprint in the lives of
51:13
others because our words can either destroy or build.
51:20
Absolutely. I just didn't go through.
51:22
I didn't just go through. I tried to determine how it
51:26
could be used daily. So make an imprint.
51:30
OK, a little bit more comments and Keisha said Amen.
51:34
Tia said she's a great light to everyone she touches.
51:38
Thank you. Yvette said Amen.
51:42
Yes, words matter and I'm going to leave the last few minutes
51:47
for you, Rochelle. Anything that we didn't cover,
51:49
anything you want to say that's in your heart to the audience,
51:53
it's all yours, ma'am. First and foremost, I'm just so
51:57
very thankful for family. I'm so very thankful for
52:00
friends. Like I could get so very
52:01
emotional right now because life, life, life is beautiful.
52:08
Life is what we make it. And I think the I'm very
52:14
thankful to each person that has joined.
52:16
I'm thankful for the comments. I am thankful for this
52:19
opportunity. There was a time in my life that
52:21
this is something that I could not do speaking, being an event
52:26
planner for 30 years, being behind the scenes.
52:29
And as the Lord began to pull me out front, I was kicking and
52:34
screaming, not wanting to do so. But as I begin to tell my
52:37
testimony, it allowed people to draw near to me to be a a
52:41
blessing through my testimony and how I made it through
52:44
because I am victorious through Christ.
52:47
And so I'm just very thankful for the imprints that have been
52:52
made in my life and the imprints that I am making in others.
52:56
And so I'm just thankful for everyone that is on.
52:59
I am thankful for all of your kind words.
53:02
And you guys are making an imprint in my life right now.
53:05
This podcast is making an imprint in my life right now.
53:09
So as I continue to reflect, because I reflect every day, I
53:13
am reflecting on this opportunity that I have to be a
53:17
part of this amazing podcast to do something that I was once
53:20
afraid of, which was speaking, you know, and I am so thankful
53:25
that that fear is no longer there because I know who carries
53:28
me every day and that is my Lord and Savior that carries me,
53:32
carries you every day. So I do not walk with fear
53:35
anymore. I have just said yes to the
53:38
calling upon my life and I am moving forward in that with
53:41
great strength because I know that I do not carry any of this
53:45
on my own. I know that the Lord is carrying
53:48
me every day. I sent this message out to
53:50
everyone yesterday because I have been so busy.
53:53
My life has changed drastically and I've been very busy.
53:58
So I'm thankful for Yvette Delgado for inviting me to be a
54:02
part of this. I told her that I am so thankful
54:05
that she pushed me to do this to get everything that she needed
54:10
to her to make sure that Jose Spleres would have everything
54:14
that he would have to have this podcast.
54:16
And so I am thankful to my Lord and Savior.
54:19
I'm thankful to my husband. I'm thankful to my children.
54:22
I'm thankful to my family. I am thankful to each and every
54:25
last one of you guys that have joined and Mr. José José, your
54:30
name does it does kind of flow. It's like they flourish.
54:36
Thank you. And I pray that on your podcast
54:38
you receive all that you need so that people understand that
54:41
there are communities out here that will embrace them.
54:46
And so I do want to leave with saying this, that I want my life
54:49
to inspire change. I, I, I wrote this.
54:52
I want my life to inspire change, to create impact, and to
54:55
leave an imprint. For me, those are not just three
54:59
words. They describe how I want to live
55:02
and what I want to leave behind. So those are the things that I
55:07
want to say in my closing to you guys and I am so very thankful
55:11
for this opportunity. Oh, thank you.
55:14
And before I say what I got to say, just some more, says Liz
55:17
says. Thank you for sharing your love
55:18
and faith, Ellis Ellis Elsa says so proud of your example of
55:24
telling God. Yes, you glow girl.
55:28
Yvette said humble thank you Rochelle, I'm so proud of you.
55:32
And Liz says Amen E Amen. And I want to say Rochelle
55:36
Gracia, that means thank you in Spanish, I queziote Bendiga.
55:40
That means God bless you. I want to say thank you for your
55:44
love and faith that you've dropped into us and you are
55:46
making a difference. Thank you as we speak.
55:49
So I mutual blessings, much blessing, have a blessed life
55:53
and just thank you for giving us the opportunity to hear you.
55:57
And the world's going to hear you, and you are making a
56:00
difference, ma'am. Thank you.
56:02
So much Congrats. Ya let me let me talk about my
56:04
next guest next week real quick, we're going to have Jess Vargas
56:07
and that's next Saturday, September 12th at 20/26, 5:00 PM
56:12
Eastern Standard Time. And he's going to teach about
56:15
the pivot, breaking free and other things.
56:17
So I just want to say, you know, make sure you tune in.
56:20
I appreciate that. And with that being said, I want
56:23
to say Gracia Rochelle. One quick, someone said the
56:27
event I think for the back to school backpack drive is August
56:30
the 22nd. I don't know if that's what
56:33
you're talking about. And then the the play is on
56:36
October the third, but all of that.
56:38
October 3rd, OK. Site, yes.
56:40
And all this is on your website too, right?
56:42
They go on your website. OK.
56:44
Yes. Thank you, Rochelle, ladies and
56:45
gentlemen. Oh, I'm sorry.
56:47
Go ahead, ma'am. Oh.
56:48
I said you're so very welcome. Thanks.
56:49
Oh no, Gracia. And we're going to see you
56:51
again, girl, when I see you on that red carpet, I said.
56:53
I knew her. And you will continue to know
56:57
me. Yes, we're going to stay in
56:59
touch and just thank you for joining us and have a blessed
57:04
life. And and yes, you said your
57:06
nephew, I am going to pray for him.
57:07
My grandson, your grandson. I am going to pray for him and
57:11
he's going to be OK. Thank you to lay hands on him.
57:14
OK, Gracia, everybody a good one.
57:17
Appreciate it. Bye, bye.
57:18
Bye. Bye.
57:19
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