We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacque Salomon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacque, what are you inspired by?
What inspires me the most is the unapologetic agency manifested in our next generation. There is a light within them, an ancestral rhythm animating their purpose as they step courageously and honorably into their Truth. It is radiantly beautiful in such frightening and uncertain times of quantum reconstruction and evolution.

What inspires me is that we as a species are remembering who we really are. We are understanding that health, access to food, emotional stability and normalized non-violence are our rights as members of one planetary family. We are remembering that we are parts of one whole and when one is sick, we are all unwell and when one thrives, we all benefit.

What inspires me is being part of a passionate and deeply loving community committed to the health and wellbeing of their neighbors, family and friends; a community who have invested gifts and skills into community to heal community.

What inspires me is disrupting animal agriculture and industrialized farming, machines of colonialism, that are literally destroying our ability to live on this planet. In doing so we dismantle systems of oppression, exploitation, food insecurity, environmental injustice and health disparity. Incredibly inspiring and wakes me up every day!

What inspires me is knowing my children know I devoted myself to doing all I can to do what is required of me as a human today. “Being the best person one can be” without understanding that living in a world view that advantages few at the expense of most and being unwilling to see what this is doing to us as a species is disingenuous and insufficient.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Trauma-Informed Transformational Coach and am co-founder of a trauma-informed social justice education non-profit committed to dismantling health inequity in historically marginalized communities through the pillars of Lifestyle Medicine. What this means is that I have taken all the learning and training that I acquired to heal myself mind, body and spirit and transmuted it into service that I offer in contribution to whole systems health and healing.

In order for me to shift behaviors and attitudes steeped in lack, suffering, fear and despair that were deeply entrained, conditioned and emotional/physically/mentally beaten into my becoming who I thought I was, I had to uncolonize myself and indigenize. This was an alchemical process, heroine’s journey, an extended and continual dark knight of the soul. It has been my greatest achievement to stand in the face of Truth and choose a path that is often uncomfortable and challenging but actions made from a place of wholeness and integrity.

What I learned is that I am a person with a lived experience of wisdom, talents skills and gifts to offer the world. I learned that I am more than enough because what the world needs is an unbridled Love that will protect Life, Love, Truth, Justice and Health for All at all costs. It is critical to be humble and listen to the wisdom shared in every experience. Remember that we save no one but ourselves and we have the honor of sharing what we have learned in support of others who may not be privy or have had access to resources we have had the advantages to.

I give it my all without expectations understanding that what we are creating is new, never before done and it is expected that through feedback of those we hope to support, through an exchange of insight and knowledge, we co-create opportunities for all to heal with every new action or program. We are community engaged because we cannot create without the input and invitation of community. Surrendering ego to this fact is the greatest superpower we have!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Wow, I love this question because I love living here. I would take them to every vegan restaurant in the Valley. Then we would travel north and do some hiking and meditating among the beauty of the forest before traveling south so visitors can truly appreciate the magnificence and splendor of Arizona. I would invite them to visit historic landmarks and learn the history of the ancestral agriculturists whose home we get to live, play and work on each and every day, the Akimel O’odham and Piipaash people. There is always a community gathering/event so we would attend as many as we can. I am very simple and love a simple life.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a huge Shoutout to my teachers and guides that have contributed to my healing journey and subsequent soul work. Resmaa Menakem, Gabor Mate, Thomas Hubl, Shefali Tsabary, Ramani Durvasula, Center for Nutrition Studies, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. I want to give a major shoutout to the community of South Phoenix for all the inspiration, motivation, love and trust they show me every day. I want to thank my friends/soul sisters/colleagues as well as collaborators in all things Truth, Love and Health for community Rosalind Akins, Jackie Morales and Marina Thomas aka Running Deer. I want to give a huge shoutout to Abigail Sassano, Mayra Armas, Suzanne King, Nivi Jaswal and Jaine Rao for having my back and seeing Me in times when shadow and pain darkened my own reflection. Finally, I want to give a huge shoutout to my biological and spiritual sister Joyce Velazquez and my brother-in-law and spiritual brother Ernesto Velazquez for always and forever being my strength and my breath when life had me believing I had nothing left.

Website: https://www.seedstoinspire.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedstoinspire/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacque-salomon-116096155/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jacque.Salomon

Youtube: Seeds To Inspire Channel

Image Credits
Mayra Armas

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