A powerful exploration of how family bonds strengthen through grief and loss, revealing that true resilience is collective and forged in the fires of shared adversity and unwavering unity.
Influential Woman · Nonprofit
Doreen Nuusolia Alualu
Founder, BOSSPLAYAH HAVEN
Federal Way, WA 98003
10Articles published
3Awards received
In Conversation
Doreen Nuusolia Alualu for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Doreen Nuusolia Alualu: To me, being an influential woman isn't about holding a title or occupying a space of authority. It's about the profound responsibility of building a legacy of resilience. It means turning the raw chapters of your own life into a blueprint that others can use to rebuild theirs. Influence is quiet strength and motion. It is the fierce determination to protect, nurture, and pave a path for the next generation. A truth I live out every single day as a mother protecting and guiding my nine greatest blessings. It is the understanding that our personal victories are never meant to be kept to ourselves. They're meant to serve as a beekeeper for anyone still navigating the dark. True influence is about creating spaces where people feel seen, safe, and empowered to heal. Whether it's through the vital work of community advocacy, the raw vulnerability of storytelling, or creating a literal haven for those seeking a fresh start. An influential woman doesn't just break barriers, she leaves the door wide open behind her. Ultimately, being influential means rising from the ashes of your own challenges, standing firmly in your truth, and using your voice to remind the world that no matter how broken the foundation, you can always build something magnificent.
What's one piece of advice you would give to younger women chasing their dreams?
Doreen Nuusolia Alualu: If I could give only one piece of advice to younger women chasing their dreams, it is this. Never let the world convince you that you have to choose between your depth and your ambition, or that you must erase your struggles to deserve your success. True power isn't born in a vacuum of perfect circumstances. It is forced when you choose to rise from the ashes of whatever tried to burn you. Your past, your responsibilities, the moments that broke you, and the love that rebuilds you, they are not distractions from your purpose, they are your purpose. When you are building your dreams, build them like a haven, not just for yourself, but as a legacy for the generation watching you. Do not shrink to fit into rooms that are afraid of your growth. Stand tall in your multifaceted brilliance. Speak your truth with unapologetic authority, and remember that the most influential thing you can ever be is the author of your own story.
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Her Story
About Doreen
Doreen Nuusolia Alualu: Turning Lived Experience into Lifelines
Doreen Nuusolia Alualu is a visionary leader, community advocate, and the co founder of Bossplayah Haven, a rising nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness and addiction for mothers. Driven by deep empathy and her own lived experience, Doreen is building a revolutionary, "one-stop-shop" support system designed to eliminate the chaotic referral loops that so often fail families in crisis.
A Mission Born from Resilience
Doreen’s commitment to advocacy is deeply personal. As a recovering addict who has proudly been clean for over six years, she intimately understands the intersecting challenges of addiction, housing insecurity, and parenthood. Years ago, while pregnant and navigating homelessness with her children, she experienced firsthand the exhausting barrier of being bounced from one program to another—each with its own rigid criteria. Recognizing the urgent need for a more compassionate approach, she envisioned a seamless path to stability.
Bossplayah Haven integrates housing, recovery, and empowerment under one roof. By addressing the root causes of crisis simultaneously, the organization ensures that individuals face no referral loops, no starting over, and no loss of momentum on their journey to healing.
Leadership Anchored in Faith and Family
Before launching Bossplayah Haven, Doreen served as a case manager for a low-income housing institute in Washington State, gaining invaluable professional insight into housing policy and community resources. Today, she balances her executive leadership with her most cherished role: a dedicated stay-at-home mother to eight children, with a baby on the way. Alongside her husband and partner, Howie Alualu, also co-leads a profound family ministry, grounding her community work in faith and mutual support.
Building a Legacy of Empowerment
Doreen’s dedication to empowering others extends to the page. She has recently completed three manuscripts for an upcoming three-part memoir, transforming her personal trials into a powerful literary roadmap for resilience.
Whether through her nonprofit development, her ministry, or her writing, Doreen Nuusolia Alualu exemplifies what it means to lead with fierce love and authentic purpose. She is not just building an organization; she is crafting a legacy of hope and a blueprint for systemic change.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Doreen
01What do you attribute your success to?
My Blueprint for Success
"Success isn’t about the recognition you receive; it’s about the resilience you build and the doors you open for others to walk through."
1. Purpose-Driven Leadership
My success is rooted in a deep commitment to community and legacy. Founding Bossplayah Haven allowed me to turn passion into action, creating a dedicated non-profit space where individuals can find support, build resilience, and unlock their full potential. True leadership is about lifting as you climb.
2. The Power of a Village
No one succeeds in a vacuum. My ultimate foundation is my family—they are my anchor, my constant source of inspiration, and the fuel behind everything I do. Managing a beautiful, bustling household of nine children alongside my husband and best friend, Howie, has taught me unmatched lessons in time management, unconditional love, and unwavering focus. I also stand on the shoulders of the incredible matriarchs who came before me, like my mother-in-law, Mama Temu, whose strength inspires me daily.
3. Turning My Story into a Strategy
Every challenge I’ve faced has been an asset, not a liability. I attribute my growth to my willingness to be vulnerable, share my journey openly, and use my personal narrative to prove that your current circumstances don't define your ultimate destination.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
1. "Become a Storyteller of Your Own Value"
It doesn’t matter how hardworking or talented someone is if no one knows they are doing it. Advise them to learn how to articulate their wins, share their journey, and market themselves. In the modern workforce, your reputation and your personal brand are your absolute greatest assets.
2. "Run Toward the Chaos"
The people who advance the fastest are the ones who step up when things get messy. Tell them to look for the gaps, the unorganized projects, or the problems everyone else is avoiding, and volunteer to fix them. Solving chaotic problems is exactly how you become irreplaceable.
3. "Collect Skills, Not Just Job Titles"
Titles can be stripped away, companies downsize, and industries change. But a diverse stack of high-value skills—like public speaking, digital literacy, conflict resolution, and project management—belongs to them forever. Advise them to treat every job as a masterclass that they are getting paid to attend.
4. "Protect Your Energy and Your Network"
Success is rarely a solo journey; it is built on relationships. Tell them to build a community of peers who challenge them and mentors who advocate for them. At the same time, remind them that their peace of mind is non-negotiable—if a space compromises their worth, it's time to build a new one.
The Golden Nugget: "Don't just look for a seat at someone else's table. Focus on building skills so sharp and a reputation so strong that you can build your own table whenever you want."
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
To the young women entering the nonprofit sector ready to shake things up: the community needs your vision, but you must build a foundation that lasts. Here is my raw, real advice for turning your passion into sustainable power:True influence isn't measured by how high you climb alone, but by how many leaders you empower along the way. Own your story, take up space, and lift as you climb.True leadership in the nonprofit space isn't just about managing a mission; it’s about breaking barriers and building a lasting legacy. For the young women stepping into this arena ready to change the world, the journey requires an equal blend of fierce strategy and unapologetic heart.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, the biggest gap in our field is how compartmentalized everything is. We put people in boxes. When my kids and I were homeless and I was struggling with addiction, I got trapped in the referral loop. One place could help me, but only if I went to an inpatient program where I couldn't have my kids. It was chaotic and exhausting.
That’s why I built Bossplayah Haven. It’s a true one-stop shop. We don’t categorize people or make them start over at three different organizations. A mother can come to us, and we take care of the housing, the recovery, and the long-term empowerment all at once. We keep families together and cut out the red tape so they never lose their momentum.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Driven by Purpose. Anchored by Legacy.
I am a builder of legacy, a champion for community, and a believer in the power of resilience. Every project I touch and every story I share is rooted in a few unchanging truths:
Legacy Over Everything: I believe our stories aren't just meant to be lived—they are meant to be told. I am committed to documenting the raw, real journey to prove that resilience can turn any challenge into a blueprint for the next generation.
Unwavering Devotion: Family is my foundation. My purpose is fueled by the deep partnerships, ancestral strength, and brilliant potential of the people who anchor my world.
Service & Uplift: True leadership means building tables, not just taking up space. Through community empowerment and non-profit dedication, my mission is to lift others as I climb and create lasting impact.
Authentic Visibility: I believe in stepping boldly into the spotlight—not for the applause, but for the platform. When we show up authentically, we give others permission to do the same.
"We don't just survive our journeys; we build empires of hope from them."
Her Content Hub
Articles by Doreen
The Alchemy of Grief: When the Storm Reshapes the Soul
How Grief Became Our Greatest Teacher: Finding Strength in Unity and Collective Resilience
The Strength of a Family Forged Through Loss
There are storms that roll into our lives merely to shake the branches, and then there are storms that completely level the landscape of our existence.
The recent passing of my beloved mother-in-law, Temukisa Leota, was the latter. It was a shattering, seismic loss that threatened to anchor our hearts eternally in grief. Yet, in the deepest, darkest hollows of heartbreak, a profound and undeniable truth was revealed to me:
A family's love, when forged in the fires of true resilience, is entirely bulletproof.
Watching my husband, Howie Alualu, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his siblings during this devastating time has been one of the most moving and awe-inspiring experiences of my life.
When a matriarch passes, the pillar that held up the roof is gone. The world expects the structure to collapse. But instead of falling, my husband and his siblings became the pillars themselves.
They chose to honor her memory not by breaking apart, but by binding closer together. In their unbreakable unity, I witnessed the true definition of endurance. They did not simply weather the storm; they became the anchor that kept the entire family from drifting into the abyss.
We often think of resilience as a solitary act-a single person grinding through adversity. But the deepest, fiercest form of resilience is collective. It is looking into the eyes of your siblings, your spouse, and your children and deciding that, while the storm may rage around you, it will never be allowed inside you.
The Blueprint for Enduring the Storm
For every woman leading her family through the darkness, for every leader guiding her community through a season of shattering loss, this is your blueprint for turning pain into power:
- Protect Unity at All Costs:
- When grief arrives, it brings chaos. Be the fierce voice that commands peace. Hold the line for your people. Remind them that you are an indivisible force, stronger together than you could ever be apart.
- Honor the Legacy Through Relentless Action:
- A matriarch's impact does not end when she leaves this earth; it multiplies. Every act of kindness, every display of strength, and every moment of unity becomes a direct, living continuation of her story. You are her wildest dreams in motion.
- Allow Pain to Deepen Your Divine Purpose:
- Do not run from the depth of your emotions. Let sorrow soften your heart, but let shared endurance strengthen your resolve. Use this crucible to redefine what your family's legacy will look like for generations to come.
The Final Verdict: Stand as the Light
To every influential woman navigating her own winter:
Remember that you are not a victim of the storm; you are the master of how you rise through it.
Do not simply try to survive this. Do not allow grief to shrink you. Lean heavily into the people who share your blood and your bond. Look the tempest in the eye and refuse to bend.
The winds will eventually die down.
And when they do, you will not just see a family that survived-you will see a family that has risen from the ashes: unbroken, undefeated, and beautifully transformed.
Stand firm.
Your foundation is permanent.
You are ready.
A heartfelt tribute to unconditional love and grace, exploring how one woman's open heart became a sanctuary for a broken family, teaching the transformative power of acceptance and belonging.
The Sanctuary of Her Grace: A Tribute to a True Mother of the Heart
A Tribute to Unconditional Love and the Sacred Power of Chosen Family
There are those who give love out of obligation, and then there are rare, celestial souls who love simply because your heart is beating. Losing a woman who was a true mother figure to my soul is a grief that cuts down to the very marrow of who I am. She didn't just exist in our world; she redefined it. In a society that so often measures a person's worth by convenience and bloodlines, she operated on a frequency of pure, unconditional grace.
When my children and I were tossed aside by those who were supposed to protect us, we walked through the world carrying the heavy, suffocating weight of feeling like a burden. We were bruised by rejection and searching for a safe place to land. Then I found my husband, Howie Alualu, who introduced us to her.
Where the world saw baggage, she saw a blessing entering her son's life. She looked past our broken pieces and saw our worth.
A Sacred Love When No One Else Cared
With arms wide open and a heart that knew no boundaries, she and her beautiful children wrapped themselves around us. They showed us a fierce, protective, and unshakable love at a time when the silence from the rest of the world was deafening. They didn't hesitate. They didn't question whether we were "worth" the effort. They simply chose to be our sanctuary.
Through their embrace, they wove a safety net of warmth, laughter, and unconditional acceptance, finally showing my children and me what it truly means to be a family.
Though our time together was painfully brief, the bond we forged during that quiet season has become a permanent, sacred pillar of my strength. That fleeting time is now a treasure I cherish above all else - a profound reminder that the depth of a connection is never measured by the years you have together, but by how safely you are held while you are there.
A Legacy for the Soul
If her beautiful life and sudden absence have carved anything into my spirit, it is this: never calculate the cost of being kind, and never lock the doors of your heart.
We live in a guarded, cautious world that constantly tells us to build walls, protect our boundaries, and view the vulnerable with suspicion. But true power - the kind of influential, legacy-building grace that she possessed - lies in the courage to be soft, welcoming, and radically loving.
My deepest advice to you is this: do not let a cruel world narrow your capacity to love. When someone is drowning in the pain of rejection, choose to be their shore. Look at the people society has cast aside and see them as the divine blessings they are. Build bridges of belonging, not walls of exclusion.
We never know how much time we have left to leave our mark on this earth, so love without conditions, accept without reservation, and let your legacy be the shelter you provide to those who have nowhere else to go.
Rest in eternal peace to the woman who taught us how to truly live and how to truly love, Temukisa Leota.
Your heartbeat lives on in every open door, every extended hand, and every fierce act of love we pass forward in your honor.
A powerful testament to resilience and redemption, this article celebrates redefining fatherhood through unconditional love while honoring a mother's extraordinary journey from abandonment and homelessness to building an empire of eight children and counting.
The Blueprint of Restorative Love: Honoring the King Who Stepped In When the World Walked Out
From Abandonment to Empire: How Real Love Rebuilds a Family
This Father's Day, we are redefining what it means to be a father—shifting the spotlight from mere biology to the profound, restorative power of choosing to love. True resilience isn't born in calm waters; it is forged when the floor beneath you completely drops out, forcing a family to choose between breaking or becoming unyielding.
This is the raw, unedited truth of what it means to rebuild a life from the ashes of betrayal into an empire of unconditional love.
The Breaking Point: Facing the Void
Imagine standing on the precipice of homelessness, holding the hearts and futures of seven children while carrying child number eight in your womb. That was the exact moment the man who promised to be a partner, a protector, and a father chose to walk out.
He didn't just leave a marriage; he abandoned an entire family at its most vulnerable threshold.
To look into the eyes of seven hungry, confused children while feeling the kicks of an unborn eighth—all while wondering where you will sleep next week—is a terrifying depth of isolation. In that space, there is no luxury of fear. You quickly realize that no one is coming to save you. You have to become your own sanctuary, your own financial strategist, and your own fortress. You absorb the terror in private so your children only see a mother who cannot be shaken. You become the definition of grit.
The Shift: When Real Love Steps into the Arena
But the universe does not leave a vacuum of chaos forever when a woman refuses to break. Out of the ashes of that abandonment, the narrative shifted entirely. Enter the most amazing man—a true partner, a best friend, and a real protector: my husband, Howie Alualu.
It takes a strong man to love a woman, but it takes a king to step into a kingdom of eight children and claim them with unconditional love.
He didn't see a burden; he saw a blessing. He didn't see baggage; he saw a beautiful legacy waiting to be anchored. He stepped into the chaotic, beautiful storm of our lives and became the quiet, unyielding pillar our family deserved. He showed my children what consistency looks like, what safety feels like, and what a real father actually does—he stays, he protects, and he loves without conditions.
The Legacy Continues: Expecting Baby Number Nine
Today, our story isn't about the man who walked away; it is about the empire that was built because he did. We are now expanding our circle of love and expecting baby number nine. This beautiful new life isn't just an addition to the family; it is a living symbol of total restoration. It is proof that you can start in the dark, face the threat of homelessness, and still build a life overflowing with abundance, joy, and peace.
A Powerful Mandate for the Woman in the Dark
Never mistake a temporary abandonment for your final destination.
When people walk out on you, let them walk. They are merely clearing the stage for the people who are actually qualified to love you and your legacy. The pain of being left pregnant and vulnerable is a brutal fire, but it is also an alchemical process that burns away everything weak, leaving you completely unstoppable.
Trust that your capacity to love, to endure, and to rebuild is limitless. When you refuse to accept a broken story, the universe will send the right alignment to help you build an empire. Hold your head high, protect your peace, and know that your story doesn't end in the valley—it ends on the mountain you are currently building. You are everything your family needs, and the best chapters are still being written.
A broken woman is a tragedy, but a woman who has rebuilt herself from zero is an absolute force. I didn't survive the dark just to stand in the light alone—I am here to torch the path for the next wave of unstoppable matriarchs and leaders. If you are ready to command your worth, redefine your narrative, and step into your ultimate era of abundance, stay close. If you are ready to stop playing small in a story someone else tried to write for you, stay tuned. We are tearing down old blueprints and building an unshakable empire of leadership, legacy, and unconditional power—and I'm giving you the exact strategy to do the same. The masterclass is just getting started.
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