Jasmine Harris

I would attribute my success to the strong, collaborative partnership I have with Save the Children Louisiana U.S. Programs, also known as Head Start. In particular, I want to recognize Mrs. Johnnie Belle Chavis, the Louisiana State Program Director for Save the Children Head Start and her team. Without her partnership, as well as the collaboration of the other Head Start centers, my work would be challenging. I am consistently grateful for the access they provide to their centers and families. Recently, I attended a Head Start directors' meeting, and I expressed my appreciation for the ongoing partnership. One of the key initiatives we support together is the SCAN's Have a Heart campaign, my role is to engage parents, caregivers, and even children to urge lawmakers across Louisiana and the United States to truly have a heart for kids, particularly when it comes to supporting early learning programs and policies. I host advocacy trainings at various Head Start centers to support this campaign. Through these visits, parents often become interested in learning more about advocacy work and how they can get involved. Without this level of access and collaboration, I know it would be more challenging to do this work effectively.

The best career advice I've received is to find your passion, where it doesn't seem like you're working every day.

For anyone considering a career in this field, my advice would be is to determine your “why”. Your “why” should motivate you to focus on the work because that work will directly impact who will be your next parent advocate engaging lawmakers on issues of Early Childhood Education funding, food security funding, or children’s safety. This field is essential to how we navigate and apply pressure to the very people we vote in office, discover your “why". I would say discover your why.

The challenge, I believe, is helping lawmakers understand that children should not be a political issue. Supporting children and ensuring their success should be bipartisan, something everyone agrees on. When discussions concerning cutting programs like SNAP benefits or early learning supports, all lawmakers should consider the long-term impact on families. The question should always be: how will this affect children and households over time? For me, the greatest challenge is helping lawmakers who may still be undecided see the bigger picture when it comes to food insecurity and funding early learning programs. That is why I am so passionate about ensuring parents understand their voice is powerful and important, because lawmakers need to hear their personal stories, their lived experience to truly understand the real impact of their decisions.

Integrity is one of my core values. I believe without integrity, my work would lose its authenticity. Leading with integrity means being honest and transparent in everything I do and ensuring there are no hidden agendas. I make it a priority to provide parents with clear, upfront information about what their participation involves, so they fully understand the process from the beginning. I also reassure them that there are no costs involved because the organization has amazing donors who have given to support their participation in their advocacy journey. My goal is simply to empower parents and families helping them understand that their voice is important and it truly matters. Operating with integrity, honesty, and strong personal values is central to how I lead and serve. I also place a high value on emotional intelligence, which helps me stay self-aware and intentional about how I interact with others.