Growing up, Ashley Rock-Wylie would watch her mother Debbie Rock administer compassion and love to children with HIV and AIDS. Rock’s volunteer efforts would have a major impact on the career paths of both women.
Today, Rock is the founder and CEO of LIGHT Health & Wellness Comprehensive Services, Inc. (LIGHT), a non-profit that provides comprehensive support services to children, youth, and families whose lives have been impacted by health and societal issues such as HIV/AIDS and substance abuse.
Rock-Wylie RN, MS, MBA now owns and operates Above It All Mental Health Program, a program that provides therapy, therapeutic mentorship, substance use disorder treatment, and other services. She also owns Fleurs d’Ave Floral Boutique, which specializes in creative floral arrangements.
The businesses owned by the mother-daughter entrepreneurship duo “stems” from their desire to make the world a beautiful place for everyone to live – particularly children born with HIV/AIDS. Their desire to make a difference has “blossomed” into successful business ventures.
“I started volunteering at the University of Maryland working with children with AIDS,” recalled Rock. “I would take Ashley with me. At the time, she wanted to go into forensics. I eventually started Baltimore’s first pediatric HIV program serving children in a childcare setting.”
LIGHT started as a single-day care program serving children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS and is recognized as a national model for its services and innovation. It has since
grown into a broad client base organization offering multiple services including mental health/trauma, counseling, prevention education, and risk reduction.
Rock-Wylie reflected on the impact her mother had on her career path.
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in life,” said Rock-Wylie. “As my mother said, I thought I wanted to go into forensics, but watching the work my mother did, drew me in. I started working with children who were HIV-positive. That’s where I developed my passion and decided I was going to nursing school.”
Rock-Wylie began her career as a youth services coordinator with HIV infected youth at LIGHT Health and Wellness. She later operationalized the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine’s HIV Primary Care Clinic known as the JACQUES Initiative and taught as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Her career also includes serving as Director of Regional Care Coordination at CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Rock-Wylie operates the Above It All Mental Health Program and Fleurs d’Ave Floral Boutique alongside her husband Brandon Wylie.
“I feel like I am walking in my purpose,” said Rock-Wylie.
Both mother and daughter have advocated on behalf of vulnerable populations and received numerous honors and awards for their work in the community. Rock has forged major collaborations with various organizations including Baltimore Health Enterprise Zone, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Systems, and numerous community-based and AIDS service organizations.
Rock also found success in the music industry as a former disco singer with hits that included “Don’t You Want My Love?”
Both choked up when they talked about their strong maternal bond.
“If someone is in trouble or needs help…it does not matter who they are…Ashley is there,” said Rock. “I’m very, very honored to be her mother and I love her very, very much.”
Rock-Wylie said, “I’m beyond grateful for the type of mother that I have…her unwavering support and telling me she loved me over and over again. It didn’t go unnoticed.”
The two shared these Mother’s Day messages.
“In the world that we live in, figure out a way to forgive, communicate and tell each other that you love one another,” said Rock. “If a person passes and you were angry with them and didn’t make it right, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Children, spend time with your parents. Moms spend time with your children and let them know how much you love them.”
Ashley Rock-Wylie added, “This sounds so much like a cliché, but give your mothers and your daughters their flowers while they can smell them.”