Rochelle Jackson
After putting her life back together from a traumatic domestic violent relationship and experience, Rochelle Jackson became the Advocate and Organizer for the Welfare Justice Project of Just Harvest in 2001. As a single mom, with the help of many programs, Rochelle put herself through school to obtain both an Associates and Bachelors Degree. She was promoted to Public Policy Advocate at Just Harvest in October 2012. The Welfare Justice Project was born in the aftermath of the 1996 Welfare Reform and sought to educate and empower those affected by the Welfare System to demand changes in the welfare system at all levels of government. Rochelle’s passion for economic justice and elimination of hunger are inspired by her own personal journey as a single mom and help inform the work she does everyday.
Rochelle was a part of the first graduating class of the YWCA’s Enterprising Women Business Training Program and launched her own consulting and life coaching business in 2007. Rochelle serves on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Income Maintenance and Consumer Subcommittee of Medical Assistance Advisory Committees, is on the board of directors for the Neighborhood Legal Services Association, the board of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, President of the Clients Council of Pennsylvania, and a steering committee member of a statewide coalition called Coalition for Low-Income Pennsylvanians (CLIP). She has been involved with Allegheny County Family Support for over 20 years and has served in various roles on the Policy Board, including chairperson. In 2016 Rochelle was recognized and received the Excellence Award from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network for her work over the years on behalf of low income Pennsylvanians. She is a single mother of four children and currently lives in McKeesport, PA. She is a graduate of the Duquesne Senior High School (with honors), has an Associate’s Degree from Community College of Allegheny County in Health Information Technology with a minor in Child and Family Studies, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with minors in both Sociology and Psychology from Carlow University. She is a graduate of the Coro Center for Civic Leadership’s Women in Leadership and volunteered as a hotline counselor and advocate for both Womensplace Women’s Shelter and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape. In July 2017 she joined the Women and Girls Foundation to direct their new Femisphere Project. In May 2019, selected as one of 25 Essential Pittsburghers, https://www.nextpittsburgh.com/features/25-essential-pittsburghers/ |