Click Here To Listen Nashville Business 100 Leading Women Jacqui Wilson
When Jacqui Wilson was a teenager, she decided that her career path would become one which would help those who needed it the most. Originally choosing law as that path, her dream started to materialize after she graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and began practicing law. Initially becoming a solo practitioner in Knoxville, TN, Jacqui served as a criminal defense attorney, helped citizens restore their voting rights, and mobilized transportation efforts to ensure citizens had an opportunity to vote. When she moved to the Nashville, TN area, she continued her efforts to help others, first serving as an Assistant Public Defender for the 19th Judicial District, then as Assistant Public Defender in the juvenile courts for the Davidson County Public Defender’s Office, and later as an Administrative Hearing Official for the State of Tennessee. It was during her tenure as an Administrative Hearing Official that she decided to take a different career path.
In September 2012, Jacqui launched Christian Children’s Empowerment (CCE). Operating under the mantra of “Empowering children through the Word of God, so that excellence is the standard, not the exception”, Jacqui developed three pillars which would become the standard for all endeavors CCE chose to pursue. Those pillars are to encourage, educate, and equip, so children can become all God intended for them to become. Working with children locally and globally, CCE perfectly expresses what Jacqui hopes to accomplish in life.
Utilizing talent from around the world, CCE has emerged as an eleven-site conglomerate with a twelfth site on the rise. Understanding the importance of global citizenry, Jacqui sought out people who had the same focus as she – empowering children. CCE provides children opportunities to serve others through mission projects. They sponsor educational field trips and programs which equip children and encourage them to explore how they can use their talents, abilities, gifts, and interests to serve others. Children and their families are encouraged to challenge themselves and become a better person through biblical lessons and the reading of personal life stories from various contributors. Through CCE’s online children magazine, The Saturday Special, children have an opportunity to express their thoughts, improve their writing skills, and for their children in Kenya, increasingly improve their English-speaking skills. And this effort does not end with the children. As one of the Kenyan Kid Contributors stated, CCE’s efforts to help him helped the entire village too. In addition to the mission work and educational opportunities, CCE further empowers children and their families with ShopatCCE.com. ShopatCCE.com provides apparel with powerful spiritual statements that remind children of whom they are and whom they can become.
Soon, Jacqui plans to launch the twelfth leg of CCE, Empowerment University for Children (EUC). EUC is an online children’s university. The university will provide children with an opportunity to learn basic and advance subject material. With the hopes of becoming fully accredited one day, Jacqui’s plans for EUC serves a larger purpose. How can I help my neighbor? The classes will place children on the path of helping them create and implement real-world solutions for their own community and the global community at large, such as how to build a well or create clean sustainable energy or meet long-term educational goals for underserved areas.
Jacqui is the heart of CCE, and her passion for helping those who need it most is ever-growing. She has no desire to stop anytime soon and will continue to help as many people as she can through CCE, her books, and speaking.
