Jasmine Serrano
Community Organizer at the Southwest Organizing Project
Topics: community organizing, advocacy, and empowerment; relationship-building; Healthy Chicago Equity Zones
About
Jasmine is a long-time resident of Chicago Lawn and a community organizer at the Southwest Organizing Project. She has spent the last twelve years involved in organizing efforts on the southwest side of Chicago, starting as a volunteer before working with local schools to increase students’ leadership capacity, and most recently has supported the direction and administration of two public health initiatives, the Southwest System of Care and the Healthy Chicago Equity Zones. These initiatives utilize public health workers to connect families across the southwest region to the resources that can improve their health and wellness outcomes. Since 2019 she has worked closely with local schools, parents, youth, partner organizations and health care providers to increase the communities’ access to COVID-19 vaccines and tests, mental health services, medical care, public benefits, and organizing principles. Jasmine is also a recent alumni, having earned her Master's in Urban Planning & Policy from the College of Urban Planning & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago.