Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Woodson.
Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, I was born and raised in Cookeville, TN. My mom has 7 children and I’m the second oldest, but grew up the oldest in the house. A day after graduating high school, I packed everything I owned in two trash bags & moved to Murfreesboro, TN to live with a guy I was dating.
Shortly after moving there, I was invited to a strip club with my friends. They were having an amateur night and my friends hyped me up to do it. So… I did. And I won. I remember saying “Gosh, this is a lot of money to make it 5 minutes” – one of the veteran dancers overheard me & said “We make that every night”
I was instantly hooked and addicted to the money.
After dancing for about 3/4 years, I had a conversation with a friend who was a dancer as well and she told me that she wanted me to be better than her, that I was special & told me I should go back to school.
That next day I enrolled in cosmetology school to be a nail tech.
I was stopped dancing while I was in school, but after graduating and working in a nail shop.., I started to miss the fast money so I went back.
In 2017 I got pregnant with my daughter, Jovi Moon.
In total I danced for 9 years on and off.
May 2020, I told myself that I was done with the strip club. I just couldn’t do it anymore. I needed a change.
In October of 2020, I was invited to my first Blexit event… which just so happened to be at the White House… and Donald Trump was speaking. I had no clue I’d be attending a Trump speech at the White House until the day my flight left.
I went from a stripper to the white house in a matter of months.
It was amazing & was the boost I needed to kickstart major change in my life.
February of 2021 I was contacted by BLEXIT asking if I’d like to join the leadership team.
Shortly after joining, I started working a Wrongful Conviction of a innocent black man who has served 23 years of a life sentence.
We are now actively in court waiting on a DNA & fingerprint analysis.
In February, I became an ambassador for For All TN – I am able to lobby at the Capitol a few days a week with a special focus in criminal justice reform.
Whew. That sounds like a lot! 😆 And I do it all while being a single mother to a rambunctious, inquisitive 3-year-old.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Most certainly not – But the hard times gave me character & understanding. I experienced homelessness, domestic abuse, lost loved ones… I mean whatever you can think of. BUT it made me who I am today so I’m thankful for all of the obstacles.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
First and foremost, I am an innocence advocate – if you were to ask my mentor he would add investigative journalist to that. I also do recruiting for BLEXIT, so I’m able to travel and tell people about our message! I also do lobbying for For All Tennessee. My favorite and most important job is being a mother though! My daughter is my reason.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Dream big. Don’t settle. Sell yourself. Believe in yourself. Anything in this world is possible, you’ve just got to make the first step. Fear isn’t real. Danger is real, but fear isn’t. Don’t get too caught up in what other people think. PUT GOD FIRST. Put your faith in God, not man. Pray. Read quality books and apply the knowledge you learn to your life. Family is everything.
Contact Info:
- Email: Jasmineforjustice@gmail.com
- Website: https://freeunclephil.wordpress.com/2021/07/28/the-making-a-murderer-story-youve-probably-never-heard-about-cookeville-tn/
- Instagram: @GlitteryArtillery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasmine.woodson.39
