[0:01] [Music] [0:08] so I'm originally from Atlanta Georgia [0:11] born and raised there i left Atlanta uh [0:14] after high school and went to college in [0:16] Washington DC at American University [0:19] from college I moved back to Atlanta for [0:21] a short little bit of time i should say [0:24] I guess I studied abroad did an [0:25] internship in the south of France moved [0:28] to Birmingham Alabama back to Atlanta to [0:32] Minneapolis i was employed with General [0:35] Mills so a transfer at that time bought [0:37] me to the Twin Cities i lived downtown [0:40] in a beautiful condo in the Mill [0:42] District um right by the Guthrie for [0:44] many years and then when I got married [0:47] we purchased a home in Edinina [0:50] [Music] [0:54] i grew up in Atlanta where there is a [0:57] very thriving black middle class i was [1:00] very fortunate to see a lot of [1:03] representation of u you know black [1:06] professionals whether it be lawyers [1:08] doctors corporate community uh in my [1:10] church and um out and about in the [1:13] community even though I did go to [1:14] predominantly white schools I had a very [1:18] strong community and village there were [1:20] always people pouring into me loving me [1:23] there was representation that I could do [1:26] and be anything that I wanted to be if [1:29] you think about racism I would say you [1:32] know I think of one incident in high [1:34] school probably like my first incident [1:36] where it was like I had to get my [1:37] parents involved and someone had to [1:38] apologize to me but other than that like [1:43] you knew where people stood so there was [1:45] no guessing like if a person was racist [1:47] they said "We don't like black people we [1:49] don't like women." And that was it and I [1:51] think the problem is where people have [1:53] like this sheep's clothing and they [1:55] pretend like they care and they want to [1:57] be your friend and you're like I trusted [1:59] them or I let them in and then they turn [2:02] to be they turn out to be something um [2:05] other than what they presented [2:07] themselves as or when people say that [2:10] they're very committed and then their [2:12] actions are not in alignment with their [2:14] words that leads to um you know some [2:19] covert feelings of ismisms [2:24] [Music] [2:27] in this time and age this is not the [2:29] time to be afraid there are so many [2:32] things that can happen that can lead us [2:34] to fear even myself I remember I'm in [2:37] school um at the University of [2:39] Pennsylvania i'm working i'm traveling [2:41] all the time and I remember when the [2:47] administration changed and there were [2:48] these raids happening and I had [2:52] completely been in my homework bubble in [2:55] my life and you know people talk about [2:56] the Edina bubble i don't even think I [2:58] was in the Edina bubble i was in the [3:00] Jasmine bubble and I spoke to my mom in [3:04] Atlanta and she was telling me about [3:07] these rapes and all of this stuff and [3:08] she had this fear and concern and I was [3:12] like what like what where what are you [3:15] talking about mom like where and then I [3:17] felt like well where have I been what [3:19] I've been so self-absorbed in rightfully [3:22] so in all of the things on my plate that [3:24] I have not even connected with the [3:26] outside world i'm not watching the news [3:28] because I'm protecting my peace and so [3:31] I'm missing a major important [3:33] conversation of something taking place [3:35] in our country and I remember I was [3:37] actually driving to the television [3:39] station i'm the lifestyle contributor to [3:40] WCCCO TV and I thought "Oh my god [3:42] Jasmine [3:45] you've been in this bubble." So you got [3:46] to decide like are you going to pop the [3:49] bubble and what are you going to do and [3:53] I know trust me I know I am so busy i [3:57] can't I really should not even be here [3:59] talking to you today i am so very busy [4:03] and there's so much on my plate and [4:05] there are so many things that I need to [4:07] deal with and yet I know that my voice [4:10] is needed and so again that um being [4:16] driven by service and legacy and impact [4:20] brings me here [4:22] [Music] [4:26] you know I always say like if you notice [4:28] an opportunity area there's an [4:31] opportunity for you to be a part of the [4:32] solution and so I am very much serviced [4:37] driven in my professional and personal [4:40] life impact and legacy matter to me a [4:43] great deal and so all that I do I think [4:46] about what is the service component and [4:48] what is the opportunity for impact and [4:51] legacy and so that pretty much guides um [4:54] it serves as a a part of my you know [4:56] true north for anyone saying that they [4:59] want to do something there is no time [5:02] like the present but I always say yeah I [5:05] have a strong bias for action how can we [5:07] move people to action so start where you [5:11] are start with your common interest you [5:15] know if you are a foodie and you hear [5:17] all of these things about like food [5:19] unstability and food shelters like look [5:21] for an opportunity there but start where [5:24] you are and more importantly start with [5:26] your interest and allow your interest to [5:29] drive your opportunities for service and [5:31] your opportunities to be connected to [5:34] the bigger conversations taking place my [5:36] top strength is connection i am a [5:38] connector and people need people so [5:43] start having conversations have a [5:46] conversation with somebody that doesn't [5:47] believe what you believe and look for [5:50] the commonalities and build from that i [5:52] mean we all talk about our differences [5:54] and it's really important to respect and [5:57] honor and acknowledge and see someone's [6:00] differences so I'm not saying that like [6:02] I want people to know that yes I am a [6:03] black woman living in America but hey [6:07] build a bridge with the commonalities [6:09] look for those opportunities for [6:11] connection [6:13] [Music]