Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Fraire.
Hi Jasmine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi friends, my name is Jasmine, and I am the creator of Cafecito Con Jasmine. Cafecito is constantly evolving, but it started with coffee reviews from an amateur barista at its core. Once I built the platform, we expanded into providing community initiatives to alleviate some of the issues in our education system that stem from racial and socioeconomic inequities.
Before starting this concept, I believed I could not give back to my community until I was financially stable and established in my career. After pondering with a mental health crisis, I realized I did not want to waste time waiting for something that may never come. As terrible as it sounds, I was aiming to leave a legacy for the day my mental strains defeated me. Fast-forward to the present, that page has served as a beacon for my life and has helped me find more than one reason to keep fighting the good fight.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a child, I had to deal with situations above me that made me bitter for a long time. I felt like my issues were the biggest ones in the room, and I could never be more than them. I walked this ground with my head held in the dirt longer than I wished to. Those feelings, accompanied by being embarrassed by being from Oak Cliff, became more burdensome when I went to college. I met kids who had better resources than me and who did not have to ponder the choices my friends and I had. I felt like my countenance outed me as a kid from the hood that could never shake off the anger and sustain my ambitions.
Eventually, there came a time when I reflected long enough to wake up and cherish the place that covered me with its love. I walk into spaces knowing my presence matters, and my upbringing has made me receptive to what others are not. Oak Cliff and its teachings have made me a better student, employee, and champion of my community. There are many things I am discovering about the secrets of this life, but having a better sense of self has healed a lot of my wounds.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The appeal of Cafecito is rooted in the transparency I provide my network. They know the page is run by a broke college kid who consumes a questionable amount of caffeine. Many people have reached out to tell me how they appreciate my honesty and vulnerabilities.
But what has set us apart is the Cafectio Con Jasmine Scholarship. The scholarship opened on my 21st birthday this past April. We reach students from Oak Cliff attending their first year of college this coming fall, and with community donations, we awarded nearly $2,000 in scholarship awards to some great kids.
It was incredibly heartwarming to witness my network rally together and have them trust me to do this right. I can never stop expressing my gratitude to the people who made the scholarship possible.
I recommend checking out my Instagram (@cafecitoconjasmine) to read more about the recipients.
Today, I am working towards starting a mentorship program and looking for a board. As a sole creator, it has been challenging to expand into more of the plans I have drafted, but soon we will have more to come.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Often, the mistake people make is that they believe they have to be in a particular stage of life to do the things they want to accomplish. There is no right way to do something or a correct time to start. If you wait until you’re “financially stable” or “mature enough,” you may delay your whole life. Sometimes impatience can serve as fuel. You have to be motivated and come with pure intentions for your endeavors to work. Never let anyone, anything, or yourself psych you out. Let love and light guide your work, and you will find what is meant for you.
To those struggling with their identities or mental health, taking the first step into recovery is the most challenging part, but it is not as terrifying once you do. You are worthy of a good life, and I want to see you champion the things you want to do. Find the support that you need from others, and ask for help. If no one is listening, trust that you are strong enough to rise above. The space you take up matters; keep fighting on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/cafecitoconjasmine
- Instagram: @cafecitoconjasmine
