Servant Leader - Dominique Bellegarde
In December of 2022, Dominique Bellegarde was awarded the Servant Leadership Award for her unwavering and exceptional service to the Boston community to promote family wellbeing.
Miss Dominique Bellegarde is one of four daughters to Haitian immigrants who came to America “to have a better life.” Being raised in Boston surrounded by Haitian culture and speaking Haitian Creole, Dominique developed a nurturing, supportive role within her family and local community. She tutored her cousins, worked as a nanny, became a lifeguard, and has always focused on the wellbeing of children and families, even as a child herself. And she not only fell into a role of service, but has always wanted to serve others, as exemplified by her childhood aspiration to become a teacher or a nurse.
Miss Dominique Bellegarde is inspired by her role as a mother to be an example for her children. She is a person of her word, making things happen using her send of purpose and people skills to continually serve others. She said she doesn't want her aspirations to die with her, but to leave behind a legacy of open love.
In December of 2022, Dominique Bellegarde was awarded the Servant Leadership Award for her unwavering and exceptional service to the Boston community to promote family wellbeing.
Miss Dominique Bellegarde is one of four daughters to Haitian immigrants who came to America “to have a better life.” Being raised in Boston surrounded by Haitian culture and speaking Haitian Creole, Dominique developed a nurturing, supportive role within her family and local community. She tutored her cousins, worked as a nanny, became a lifeguard, and has always focused on the wellbeing of children and families, even as a child herself. And she not only fell into a role of service, but has always wanted to serve others, as exemplified by her childhood aspiration to become a teacher or a nurse.
Because of her lifelong pursuit of knowledge, Dominique focused on her education so that she could continue to serve others. With her Bachelors with UMass Boston and her lifelong pursuit of knowledge, she took on different roles such as a case manager, counselor, entrepreneur, and author. Eventually, Dominique took on her most important role yet, being a mother. For her four children, two boys and two girls, Dominique wanted to leave behind a legacy of service and community empowerment. She created the organization D. Legacy Pace Setters so she could continue her calling to serve, educate, and inspire Bostonian mothers and families.
Through her organization, Dominique takes on roles such as lactation counselor, birth and postpartum doula, birth assistant, student midwife, accountability partner, etc.- in essence, a person to turn to. Dominique was called to serve, led by the spirit and her parents’ insistence to continue learning.
Dominique does not limit her service to her own organization, but continues to work with the Breastfeeding Coalition, Boston Association for Childbirth Education and Nursing Mothers Council, Midwifery Alliance, Midwives Alliance of North America, and many more organizations. As a woman of the community, Dominique is indeed leaving behind a legacy of education, encouragement, and empowerment in service of the community.
Miss Dominique Bellegarde is inspired by her role as a mother to be an example for her children. She is a person of her word, making things happen using her sense of purpose and people skills to continually serve others. She said she doesn't want her aspirations to die with her, but to leave behind a legacy of open love. Her passion for service started as a byproduct of helping her family and developed over time as she saw the impact she had on others. By following the spirit, she provides people with compassion and comfort, through her renowned hugs and her unwavering support of families through strenuous times. Dominique is inspired by the people she serves, motivating her to continue down her path of love and compassion.
“Give yourself grace.” Dominique explained to me that in order to be a leader in the community, you must first build trust within yourself so that you can love, serve, and connect with an open heart. Through this grace, you can develop into an impactful individual and make it through the inevitable hardships that lay in store for every one of us. And she states that “whenever you go through a trial or life feels hard, it's just a temporary experience.” Push through the hard times, because the light is always on the other side.
If you would like to connect with Dominique Bellegarde and D. Legacy Pace Setters, you can check out her website www.dlegacypacesetters.guru,email her at dlegacypacesetter@gmail.com. You can also meet Dominique in person at Mother Healing on Tuesdays, in-person or virtual, at the Guild, or find her at local Baby Cafés with Vital Village.
Dominique wants families to always remember "It's your journey, let's set the pace" and continue to "LoveUpOnYou" daily as you go through your purposeful journey trusting the path you have been ordered to step into.