Jazmyne is originally from West Texas, where her lived experience with issues such as industrial agriculture and community disinvestment cultivated her passion for developing systems that center and nurture community, health, and the environment. Jazmyne has been a community organizer and nonprofit professional for five years advocating for reproductive justice and election access throughout Texas and Colorado. Jazmyne’s interest in food justice emerged when she consulted for a coalition of community organizations working to establish a grocery co-op on the Eastside of Denver. Following that experience, she completed the Urban Leaders Fellowship in 2021, producing a policy memorandum highlighting barriers facing SNAP users. Most recently, Jazmyne completed a Masters of International Development with a Global Environmental Change and Adaptation certificate at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies.
Field placement: Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
Lorain, Ohio
Jazmyne is working at the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio in Lorain, Ohio. She is conducting a research project to inform the development of the Sandusky Community Hub, a program designed to provide opportunities for comprehensive support services for Sandusky residents. Jazmyne is reviewing hub-based models' best practices through interviews and research to develop a prototype, implementation, and evaluation plan rooted in the vision and aspirations of community members.
Policy placement: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Washington, D.C.
Jazmyne Brooks is working with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) to develop and articulate its membership philosophy. Through her research and analysis of NSAC's current membership and membership processes, Jazmyne will develop tools and recommendations based on these learnings to better serve its existing coalition members, strategically address gaps in representation within NSAC's member base, and advance the organization's mission to create an equitable and sustainable food and farm system.