I’ve always been a social justice person and a person very motivated to establish equity across whatever community I live in. It’s something that has always been a core belief of mine.
Jasmine Won, ’24, is driven to foster equity and promote civics education in her hometown and on campus at Bridgewater State University. Now, she’s joining peers from across the nation in the fight.
“I’ve always been a social justice person and a person very motivated to establish equity across whatever community I live in,” said Jasmine, an elementary education and Spanish major from Tewksbury. “It’s something that has always been a core belief of mine.”
Next academic year, Jasmine will represent BSU in the Newman Civic Fellowship, a program that unites students from across the country motivated to solve problems and spark change. The fellows attend trainings and work with mentors to devise strategies to improve their communities.
Jasmine looks forward to “expanding my knowledge base and meeting other people who have that shared belief of mine around making this country a better place and a more equitable place,” she said.
Despite pandemic restrictions, she wasted no time making a positive impact at Bridgewater during her freshman year. As a civics fellow in the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice, she teaches the importance of voting and encourages people to cast ballots. And, Jasmine cleans up litter on campus as a member of the Environmental Action Team.
“Jasmine stood out to us because of her ability to still find engaging ways to work with her peers and take initiative to get so involved in so many things,” said Laura Mulvey, G'18, community programs manager at the institute.
She also participates in the Black Lives Matter movement and served as a poll worker and exit pollster in her hometown.
“Jasmine reflects the very best of BSU and she embodies the hope, motivation and drive needed to be a successful changemaker,” said President Frederick W. Clark Jr., '83, who nominated her for the fellowship.
She follows in the footsteps of special education and political science major Courtney Crowley, ’22, who is a Newman Fellow for the current academic year. Courtney inspired Jasmine to consider the fellowship.
BSU is fortunate to have Jasmine and Courtney on campus next year to use their fellowship experience to inspire and engage their peers in civics initiatives, Mulvey said.
“Having a student voice and student leaders in this role is really important,” she said.
While there is more work to be done, Jasmine is encouraged to have her university listen to students and fight with them for equality and racial justice.
“It’s nice to see BSU is supporting that,” she said. “I’m very invested in helping to make it work and make it better.”
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.