Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Vernon-Thompson.
Jackie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a young lady and the youngest of five, I was most adversely impacted by the absence of my father. I took it personally and lived with the belief that he left me. I was only three years old when he left our family and had no recollection of our times together. I grew up believing he did not love me. I grew up bitter and angry at life because I felt dad turned his back on me. It was personal even though I had four amazing siblings. My dear mother reared us to be the best possible human beings and I will forever love her for that. We were very blessed to have her. However, embedded in my spirit was a sense of neglect, hurt, pain, abandonment and rejection. Random and brief communications with my dad somehow did not lessen my pain and it continued.
Well into my adulthood, I decided, after being bitter for so long, to forgive my dad and release myself from the emotional and mental bondage. I contacted him that very day I decided to forgive him and told him I forgave him. He was very receptive and understood exactly what he was forgiven for. He responded in a very humble manner, which helped me in the process. From that day on, my life began to change. I felt a sense of relief and the burden of the pain and hurt was lifted from my shoulders and heart.
No longer was I living from a place of pain and a sense of neglect. I began to frequently communicate with him and asked questions such as why did he leave me. He was honest with me and seemed very concerned. For the first time in my life, I felt my father truly loved me.
After I genuinely forgave my dad, a new man came into my life, the one God had waiting on the sideline for me, until I was healed from the pain and hurt. I had to get to that point in order to fully love him, Jerome Thompson. We were married in 2011. That is when I realized forgiving my dad was so much more than just releasing my pain.
As my healing continued, I was moved to begin a mentorship program primarily for girls who were growing up without their father and living with the pain I experienced. As I proceeded, walls were broken down, mindset began to shift, and the possibility of forgiveness of dad for each girl was apparent. I made it clear to them that they cannot allow his absence to control their future. Therefore, they needed to forgive him and press forward. Even if they never establish a relationship with their father, they must still release themselves by forgiving him. They must accept him for who he is and not who they think he should be. Progress was made and lives were changing for the good.
Then, January 2014, out of nowhere, God instructed me to take it to the next level and create a series of etiquette DVDs and establish an etiquette school. Hence, From the Inside-Out School of Etiquette, LLC. With my husband’s support, we did everything necessary to establish a legitimate school to serve our students. I became a Certified Etiquette Consultant, completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Business focusing on Communications and dove into my etiquette school. Since then, I have been used to change the lives of children and adults by teaching the fundamentals of proper etiquette and protocols.
None of this was revealed to me or became a reality until I chose to release myself and authentically begin to love my father for who he is and love myself enough to give myself a chance at a bright future.
We are a certified vendor for Dade County Public Schools and an approved vendor for Broward County Public Schools. We have several contracts with the City of Lauderhill to teach students in aftercare and during school as well as summer programs. The topic of etiquette has integrated itself into the language of our kindergarten students to high school students and I love it. When they see me, their statement with a smile is “hey, there’s the etiquette lady”! They understand that etiquette requires certain conduct and it is their responsibility to apply what I and so many other adults teach them throughout their lives.
We have received countless awards and recognition gestures for the work we do in the various communities by the City of Lauderhill, Mayor Ken Thurston of the City of Lauderhill, Commissioner Denise D. Grant and Commissioner Howard Berger, various organizations, and the list goes on. It has been a phenomenal journey and I wouldn’t change it for the world. We sell our etiquette DVDs internationally and we travel to various places to conduct etiquette workshops.
In 2017, I created a 501c3 sister company called Youth Empowerment Village, Inc. For 5.5 weeks every summer, we teach up to 29 students Professionalism, Entrepreneurship, Proper Etiquette, and Public Speaking. It is our goal to teach our students to become Master Communicators with the full package. During our sessions, the students evolve into great speakers with confidence and the understanding of a full package presentation. They understand that communication is not just verbal, it is very much non-verbal and oftentimes a combination as well. They understand that their appearance from head to toe and their conduct speaks loudly, so be responsible for the message they send.
At the end of every summer, they experience a grand graduation in the City of Lauderhill Commissioner’s Chamber to celebrate their accomplishments. THIS PROGRAM IS ABSOLUTELY FREE to every student! It is sponsored by Walmart, Publix, City of Lauderhill, ROSS, McIntosh Auto Group, and various independent organizations and businesses.
In the midst of all that I have been blessed to do, February 16, 2018, I lost my dear mother after a long battle with cancer. It was as if I fell deep into a black hole again. I had never experienced anything as devastating. Nevertheless, due to the strength, as a single mother, that she demonstrated through her rearing of my siblings and me, and the determination I have to make her proud, in addition to the passion I have for what I do, “I rose to the occasion once again”! I am forever grateful to my family, especially my husband, Jerome, my step-daughter, Mackara, my siblings: Byron, Henry, Juliett, and Karen, my dad-Albert, Stepmom-Naverne (Nae), and my aunts Millicent and Veronica, that supports and encourages me daily.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am walking in my purpose. I am fulfilled helping to change lives for the better. What are the cons of etiquette? There are non-only pros.
Visit us at www.fromtheinsideoutsoe.com.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. However, I understand nothing good comes easy. There were times I was told NO, not interested, simply because they didn’t value the art of etiquette. There were times I had to place my next step on hold until the finances were in place. Multiple times I had to change websites because individuals would not make the changes or maintenance they promised and it would cost me additional expenses. Regularly, I have to consistently hit the pavement marketing and contacting individuals, schools, organizations, businesses, and cities to offer my services, hoping they would see the value in what I do. My biggest challenge has been finding committed personnel who value the fundamentals of etiquette. No longer is etiquette a lost art. It’s the buzz!
Please tell us about FROM THE INSIDE-OUT SCHOOL OF ETIQUETTE.
From the Inside-Out School of Etiquette is an etiquette school that was created to teach young people and adults proper etiquette for all environments and occasions. We begin with the inner person because they must embrace the skills and tools needed to demonstrate proper etiquette and protocol throughout their life. I conduct etiquette workshops at our school or the venue of the client locally and internationally. We focus on these topics:
*Honoring Your Body
*Table Etiquette & Protocol
*Greeting and Communicating Effectively
*Maintaining Personal Hygiene
*Sitting and Walking Gracefully
*Embrace Celibacy
*Increasing Self-Esteem
*Living to Honor God Daily
*Chivalry
*Public Speaking
*Business Etiquette & Execution
*Restaurant Etiquette
*Tea Etiquette
*Wedding Etiquette
*Basic skills children should know by the age of 10, such as: folding clothes, separating laundry, loading a dishwasher, washing dishes properly, writing thank you notes, saving, initiating assistance when they see the need…
I am known as the Etiquette Lady We are most proud of helping to change the trajectory of the lives of a significant amount of children thus far. What sets us apart from other etiquette schools is that we offer multiple topics that deal with the inner person as well as the external. We also offer a series of etiquette DVDs that are sold internationally that can be purchased on our website or Amazon. Thus far, no other etiquette school has available an entire series of etiquette DVDs. We also specialize in meeting our students where they are and establishing relationships that motivate them to apply what we have taught them.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is when I underwent a surgical procedure. While in recovery, I opened my eyes for the first time and my eyes met my mother’s eyes. At that point, I saw, in her eyes, unconditional love. I will never forget that moment. Her eyes spoke more than she could ever say.
Pricing:
- Etiquette DVDs individually $12.00
- Etiquette DVD series $90.00
- Etiquette Video Downloads $105.00
- Etiquette Video Download (individually) $15.00
- Private Etiquette workshops of a student or group (prices depend on number of students and more)
Contact Info:
- Address: 3801 N. University Dr. #502
Sunrise, Fl 33351 - Website: www.fromtheinsideoutsoe.com
- Phone: 954-870-6414
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromtheinsideoutsoe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fromtheinsideoutsoe/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/InsideOutSOE
- Other: https://www.youtube.com
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