The organizations award is named after Gloria Steinem founder of NOW and national advocate for womens rights and issues. This year Jane Stephens Comer will receive the Women of Vision & Action Award as the organization celebrates its 22nd national salute to women of Vision. The foundations motto Building womens collective power to ignite change is what brought Jasmines work in Providence to the attention of the National organization. Working with DARE in Providence Jasmine is known for being a tireless advocate for young women and men in the Providence area. Jasmines talents and hard work has played a very important role in the past few years working with the Providence School Department officials make positive changes to the Providence School Departments Suspension program.
Jasmine spearheaded a series of focus groups with students in the Providence School system and to identify why the dropout rate was so high in Providence schools. They found that many of the students who have dropped out did so after committing what they thought were minor infractions at school that resulted in temporary and in some cases permanent suspension. Jasmine and her colleagues put there findings together and presented them to the Superintendent of Schools and lobbied for changes in the suspension policy that allows for punishment that better fits the crime committed. &many students felt that they were being suspended in a disproportionate number based on minor infractions and that suspensions were given for infractions that varied in degree of seriousness according to Jasmine.
We asked Jasmine what were some of her most difficult challenges in advocating for people, and she retorted Challenges; the ability to accept change and to ensure that young people are taken seriously when they provide feedback or information to adults. Often we are not taken seriously and opportunities for change are missed. Jasmine is credited with advocating locally against the War, Incarcerating 17 Year olds at the ACI and producing a Eyes on the Prize Video Project which aired on PBS in 2007, and advocating for reform at the United States Social Reform Conference in Atlanta. We wish Jasmine the very best at the ceremony and look forward in watching her grow.