As so many individuals strive to achieve their best in their careers of choice, Cassandra E. Rhodes-Burnett has risen to the challenge.
Mrs. Rhodes-Burnett began her career by first attending Lincoln University (HBCU) before transferring to Gwynedd-Mercy College (now Gwynedd-Mercy University). She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice in 2002 and continued her education at Thomas Cooley Law School, where she achieved her Juris Doctor in 2005. After achieving her Juris Doctor (from the Lansing, Michigan-based Law School), Mrs. Rhodes-Burnett passed both Pennsylvania and New Jersey bar examinations.
Through hard work and determination Rhodes-Burnett built a successful career as a Litigation Attorney for over 17 years. As her achievements continued, Cassandra earned a position as Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, where she practiced Child Welfare Law and later earned a position as a Supervising Attorney (also known as an Assistant Section Chief), overseeing a staff of 12 attorneys.
In addition to all of that, Cassandra’s love of sharing and lifting others up led her to teach as an Adjunct Professor at Camden County College’s Paralegal Studies Department in 2013, and has been since.
But her zeal for life did not end there; in 2016, she became a Run Coordinator for Black Girls Run for the organization WBYR (Walk Before You Run), and in 2021 she founded the Hey Girl! Conference to create a safe space for women to share their authentic selves.
Although having achieved so many successful goals, Cassandra still saw an opportunity to do more–and in November of 2020 she and her husband started a business together called Lizzie’s Love Cakes! Given Cassandra’s propensity towards being success-driven, it is not a surprise that her new business took off—especially given how personal her dessert-based company is.
“I’m an attorney by trade, so I’m coming up on my 17th year of practicing law, and I actually supervise attorneys, so that is one hundred percent a passion of mine. But as I crept closer to my 40th (you got to let that breathe a little) birthday, I said, ‘Cassandra you got to live, you have to dream, you have to do those desires of your heart,’’’ stated Cassandra Rhodes-Burnett. “I asked myself, “What are those desires of my heart? Number 1. I wanted to heal from the loss of my mother. Number 2. It was to continue her legacy of love. And really, my husband pushed me. He said, Cassandra I really think you should do this, so that is another layer of my cake origin story.”[SIC]
Of course, Lizzie’s Love Cakes! are not just a business for Cassandra; it goes much deeper than that. Each cake, is named after a particular relative, with individual backstories regarding their personalities that denotes the reason for their designated namesakes.
“I started making cakes and wanted to push it further. So my Mom is one of 15,” stated Rhodes-Burnett. “The same parents; I call it ‘down south loving.’ So I wanted to make it special,” continued Rhodes-Burnett, “And so I sat down and really started to think about my Aunts and their personalities, so every single one of my cakes is named after one of my Aunts–and every single one of my cakes should really make you feel like, ‘Oh I know Aunt Rhonda. Oh wait a minute, I know Aunts Mae and Menia!” [SIC]
While mentioning each cake, it was evident how much love she felt for her family members; Cassandra was emanating warmth and joy with every description of their flavor profiles. What was also clear in her demeanor was her love to share that same passion with others. For that reason her next steps included teaching others how to bake her cakes at home, which is why she recently taught a cooking class inside the 2022 Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Winner, Old City Kitchen.
And as for what is next in the coming weeks? According to Cassandra, Lizzie’s Love Cakes is preparing for their two-year LOVE Anniversary on November 3rd.
I don’t know what Cassandra and her husband have planned for the LOVE Anniversary, but I’m sure that whatever they do—it will include some way to celebrate the legacy and adoration for her entire family.
To learn more about Lizzie’s Love Cakes and to find out where you can purchase and/or ship one of Lizzie’s Love Cakes, please visit https://lizzieslovecakes.com.
