Lorraine Jackson
Lorraine Jackson {Glorious Raine} is a Dynamic, Multi-Dimensional Creator whose life and work are rooted in passion, purpose, and soulful expression. A Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Creative Being, she moves fluidly through every role she embodies, refusing to be defined by a single title. Her versatility is her strength, allowing her to adapt, inspire, and lead with grace in every atmosphere she enters. Lorraine is an author, writer and the founder of LYLT Expressions ~~ a one-woman self-publishing company through which she has crafted and published three books to date and is always working on the next one. As an author she weaves resilience, imagination, and empowerment into her books, and articles, inviting readers and learners to discover Joy, Equanimity, and Spiritual Nourishment one story ~ one moment at a time. As a fiction and non-fiction writer her work spans both instructional and inspirational genres. In addition to drafting her next book Lorraine can be found sharing her thoughts and experiences through her online publications; “The Joy Drop” on Substack and “LYLT Expressions” on Medium.com.
Her first book, The Ballet & Jazz Dance Dictionary, was featured in the Special Edition of Black Women Authors (BWA) Magazine in 2023, celebrating her contribution to the dance world. That same year, she appeared in Let’s Talk About It! with Paulette Henson to discuss the importance of dance terminology in developing confident dancers. In 2025, she was again featured in BWA Magazine for her mini-memoir, 585! The Number That Changed Our Lives, a heartfelt reflection on raising a child with Type 1 Diabetes. Lorraine also finds joy in uplifting other writers, serving as a three-time judge for the Chapter One Writing Competition. Her commitment to service extends into the community through her volunteer work with Breakthrough T1D, supporting families navigating Type 1 Diabetes. She has most recently been recognized as one of the region’s Influential Women for her contributions to education and the arts.
Professional & Personal Background
Dance has been a robust part of Lorraine’s life since childhood the artform grew from childhood joy into a lifelong passion and over the years, she trained and performed across multiple genres. While living in Arizona she mentored children, youth, and adults as a Dance Instructor, Choreographer, Dance Ministry Leader, and Soloist from 2010-2015 as the founder of The Joy of Dance. After relocating to North Carolina in 2015, she pivoted her artistry into education spending ten years as a professional in the field of early childhood development. Holding several different positions over the years as an educator, Lorraine’s mission was to prepare young minds for their next level by nurturing independence, emotional maturity, and academic readiness. She plans to take that same energy with her into her new career as a Vision Therapist. Lorraine holds two associate degrees from Rio Salado College—one in Early Childhood Administration & Management and one in Organizational Management. In her downtime Lorraine enjoys watching a good Tv show or movie, reading a good book, adult coloring or dabbling in abstract painting ~~ a hobby that has produced several works of art displayed throughout her home.
• USAG Certified Gymnastics Tumbling Coach
• Rio Salado College – Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS), Early Childhood Administration and Management
• Rio Salado College - Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS), Organizational Management
• Breakthrough T1D: Family Team Leader, Conference Planning Committee Member, Advisory Board Member, Committee Chair, Family Mentor (10+ years)
What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from my husband’s support, my determination to chase my goals, and my love for creativity, learning, and helping others. By staying adaptable and dedicated, I’ve been able to inspire others to keep going and remain strong.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
It is perfectly normal to be uncertain about your life’s direction at first. Gaining a clear understanding of who you are and where you wish to focus your efforts for the long term can often take several years of reflection and experience.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to always be themselves, recognizing that the journey may be challenging but ultimately it will be rewarding. Persevere even in moments of discouragement, be courageous in pursuing their passions, while remaining adaptable. Most importantly, understand that their definition of success may differ from others, and that it is okay to be an employee while still being a creative individual who delivers impactful products or services.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
As an Educator: The biggest challenges in the early childhood education system are the lack of recognition as educators; we set the foundation for all learning but are often viewed as "glorified babysitters". This stigma has led to a misunderstanding between an Early Childhood Education Center or a Childcare Program/Day Care. There are loving people in both industries but there is a difference between programs that educate children starting from infancy through preschool age through both social/emotional and academic lessons and those programs that are play based centered around the social aspect but often leaving out the educational peace. While we need both, and this is no discount to day care programs an early childhood educator is one who has taken courses, earned either an associate or higher-level degree in early childhood education and creates atmospheres for learning and playing. Connecting this to the lack of recognition ~~ being an early childhood educator is one of the most under paid professions out there but yet, in order for most to gain employment as such (with a higher paying programs) you have to have not only experience but also education. An education that the average salary in the industry does not pay enough to warrant the expense it carries.
As a writer: the biggest challenge is trying to get your work out to the masses to gain readership, sales and support. Traditional publishing is very hard to get into and there are not too many publishing companies out there who take open inquiries without and agent thus making it financially difficult to break into the big scene of book publishing. Self-publishing is much bigger today than ever before but due to that and social media it is hard to make your presence known as a writer because it is saturated, thus making it hard to be seen. This in turn requires the self-publisher to work to get their books featured in local bookstores, pay for expos to participate in thus requiring the purchase of print copies to have on hand and spending time and often money to promote themselves on social media platforms. While there are benefits and often times positive outcomes to doing these things it can also be challenging for those who may not be able to afford to do so.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value integrity, creativity, dedication, and empathy. These principles shape my work with children, my mentorship, and my artistic and literary pursuits.
Expert Insights
Locations
LYLT Expressions
gloriousraine.com, Mount Holly, NC 28120