Rep listens to learn about needs

 

As the representative of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson in nine counties in Eastern Washington, Luc Jasmin III said his role is to protect and support the residents of the state.

He found his way to that role by advocating to help preschoolers improve their preparation to go to school. As a long-term fourth-grade substitute teacher, he had found it difficult to create many individual reading plans because some students read at a kindergarten level and others read at a sixth-grade level.

Realizing the disparities in learning, he started what is now Parkview Early Learning Center in 2014. His sister, Katia Jasmin is executive director of Parkview, along with heading Creole Resources.

"It was a crash course in setting it up and trying to make ends meet with not enough resources," he said. "We began promoting what early learning does for the community as it brings people together."

The center now serves 100 children, a mixed group from working and middle-class families, financially strained and private pay families, and both kids of color and dominant-culture kids.

"Our mission is to serve communities that are often neglected and need additional services and support," he said.

While working in elementary schools, Luc saw that many kids came to K-12 unprepared in basic learning.

"That puts a heavy strain on primary teachers," he observed. "I decided to focus on early learning so kids would come prepared."

Then, about 75 percent of children entered kindergarten unprepared. After advocating for resources, services and funding, Luc reported that now about 60 percent of children enter kindergarten unprepared.

"Those figures show the impact of investing in early learning," he affirmed.

"My advocacy and community organizing started with families who were not able to access early resources. I realized there was need for state subsidies for families and better reimbursements for providers," he explained.

Luc began to see improvements as he organized people and met with legislators to change policies.

That was his path to becoming Eastern Washington representative for the Governor. He first served under Governor Jay Inslee from 2022 until the election, and then Governor Bob Ferguson continued his appointment.

Luc travels to communities in the region, attends events and visits with people on Zoom.

"My role is to listen to people to learn about their needs and then to articulate them to the policymakers and governor," he said.

This summer, he went to Malden to see the new community center and learn about resources needed because many homes are still not rebuilt since the 2020 fire.

Recently, he went to Colville to converse with residents and leaders about community issues, including fish and wildlife, wildfires and logging. He shared what he learned with the governor.

The week after he was there, he went to the Apple Cup in Pullman, accompanying the governor to present the trophy. While there, they connected with the Economic Development Authority on how the area can stay economically competitive in the midst of the national dynamics.

In Spokane, he meets people at events, helps them navigate resources and works with them to develop ideas for new policies.

Concerns of and on behalf of immigrants arise often—sharing what protections they have in the state and making sure local entities do not use state resources to aid federal ICE raids.

"The main concern is about due process to prevent detentions," he said. "We want to keep people working."

Connecting with his counterparts across the state, he learns more of needs and priorities, so the state is better situated to do something.

"In these times, the state budget is tightening, and resource allocation is needed," he said, encouraging more people to advocate as coalitions.

"I do what I can to connect people to resources and to communicate the need for people in the community to speak up and say they want due process for immigrants because they are contributing to society," Luc said. "I want people to reach out more."

He uplifted the value of The Fig Tree, which helps make it easier for people to connect, share ideas and resources.

Given that he more readily responds to requests from multiple organizations, he advises people to collaborate on presenting an ask. If just one person or organization asks, it's easier to say no than if 12 individuals or organizations are asking.

Luc hears concerns from organizations such as Creole Resources, Nuestras Raíces, Latinos en Spokane and other immigrant groups that are supporting people, including many waiting to hear back on their asylum appeals and learning of Temporary Protective Status lapses that send some back to unsafe places.

"I'm a first-generation Haitian, born in the U.S. of parents who came to Boston, Mass., to study. They are now U.S. citizens and live in Spokane," said Luc.

"My parents are hard workers. Like many immigrants, they came because they wanted to work and have better lives for their families," he said.

Luc was in school in Boston from first to eighth grade and then in Rhode Island through high school. He graduated from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Mass., where he earned a degree in elementary education in 2008. Going to a church-related college was important because he grew up attending the church where his uncle was pastor.

He married in college and moved to Spokane, the hometown of his former wife, Amber, a CPA who runs Jasmin & Associates for nonprofits and small businesses. He is still involved with it.

"Moving to Spokane was moving to a different culture, but I became connected readily," Luc said.

Luc's parents came in 2012, and since then his father, who was taking his faith seriously before moving to Spokane, was mentored to be a pastor by Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Calvary Baptist Church.

After earning a degree in ministry from Whitworth University, Luc's father started Église Maranatha, which meets at Emmanuel Family Life Center. Sermons are in Creole and English.

Luc is among about 30 who attend the church, including eight members of his family and two other families.

"Faith is important me," said Luc. "The most important verse to me is Matthew 25, where Jesus says that feeding the hungry and serving those who are thirsty, poor, in prison, strangers and unhoused brings people into God's kingdom. That speaks to me. Every day, I ask if I am doing something."

"I have blessings and ask if I am using what I have to do something," he added, explaining that he helped start the accounting center to help low-income and poor people, as well as nonprofits and small businesses.

"We are called to look after each other if we have the resources to do so," Luc said.

"I seek to be frugal with what I have and try to build what I can. Generating wealth is not bad, but when we generate wealth and resources, what do we do with it? We need to care for those around us," he said.

Luc struggles with how some who call themselves Christian portray God.

"It's different than the God I serve. God has done a lot in my life and the lives of those around me," he said.

"I'm someone who decides what I want to do, figures how to live and uses my knowledge, position and talents to care for others," he said.

Now he is responsible when people reach out to him with their needs to elevate their concerns to the governor.

As people reach out, Luc encourages them to collaborate and connect to show the God of love and acceptance, not the god of hate that many media are showing.

For information, call 564-250-1713 or email luc.jasmin@gov.wa.gov.