Meet Jasmine Mckenzie

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jasmine Mckenzie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jasmine below.

Jasmine, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I learned how to be effective by truly being my authentic self unapologetically
Where my experiences have undoubtedly shaped my resilience, adaptability, and ability to thrive even in challenging environments where oftentimes I am the only person with my specific background and identity.

As a person who is Breathing While Black and Trans I oftentimes face multiple layers of adversity—such as discrimination, homelessness, and abuse—has likely built a deep well of inner strength and resilience. This resilience enabled me to persist and succeed even when I am in an environment where I feel isolated or different. Surviving various challenging circumstances, including homelessness and survival sex work, requires a high degree of adaptability. This skill allowed me to navigate different social and professional settings effectively. Experiencing marginalization and hardship firsthand gave me a unique perspective and a deep sense of empathy for others. This has helped me build strong, authentic connections with people from diverse backgrounds, fostering inclusive environments.

Being in situations where resources are scarce has likely honed my ability to be resourceful and innovative. This has translated into finding creative solutions and approaches in professional and social settings, making my voice and privilege stand out everytime when I’m the only one in the room. Living openly with HIV and being a part of the transgender community force me to advocate for myself and others. This experience has made me a powerful advocate and leader, inspiring others and effecting positive change in the South Florida community.My journey has taught me the importance of being true to myself. This authenticity is a powerful tool in building trust and respect from others, allowing myself to be effective even in spaces where I always feel and represent different things.

My journey is a testament to my strength, power and your ability to navigate and succeed in diverse environments is a reflection of the incredible skills and qualities I have developed along the way.By educating and raising awareness, has fostered a more realistic, inclusive and understanding environment. Navigating various social and professional circles as someone who might often be the only one with my identity has sharpened my networking skills. Building strategic alliances and support systems can enhance your effectiveness and success.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Jasmine McKenzie was born and raised in Miami, Florida. A black transgender woman, she has been living with HIV for the past 19 years and three years ago she openly came out to her community, family and close friends about her HIV status. She is not only a long-term survivor, but a mother, aunt, grandma, business owner, advocate, pillar and voice of her community. She is the CHANGE- a Black woman of trans experience who is committed to changing and molding her community with an extreme focus on making sure that other Black transgender and nonbinary bodies have a safe and amazing future. Fighting for equity for TLGBQ+ community is her top priority. As an add-on to making sure the general population of cis folks become educated and empowered with the proper education and knowledge around HIV/AIDS, she became a certified HIV tester in 2019 in the state of Florida where she has help conduct HIV wraparound services and linkage to care for those living with HIV and or out of care. Before Jasmine got into the line of work with community advocacy in 2016, she became the executive director of Color N Raw which was a community-based modeling agency which has now become a youth enrichment program for young black TLGBQ+ folks in both Miami and Broward County. August 2019 Jasmine opened her first drop-in center which catered to the South Florida ballroom community and allies. On Feb 8th, 2020, she started a Black trans-led and Black trans-focused organization. Named The McKenzie Project, Inc. where She serves as the founder and executive director. In 2021 Jasmine was awarded the “Changemaker Award “by the National LGBTQ Task force gala. On June 4, 2022, she was recognized as a local leader doing extraordinary HIV advocacy work for HIV Long Term Survivors Awareness Day. On June 4, 2022, she will be recognized as a local leader doing extraordinary HIV advocacy work for HIV Long Term Survivors Awareness Day. It was the 15th day of August 2022 when both The McKenzie Project and TRANSsocial opened two drop-in resources centers in both Miami-Dade and Broward County. Ms. McKenzie is also a passionate and active member of the South Florida Ballroom community and serves as the mother of The Iconic and Legendary House of Ebony and is the Co-Chair for Trans Pride Fort Lauderdale. Jasmine is the band aid that is covering all the healing wounds of those who have been broken and abused in the south Florida trans community.
Currently my main focus has 2 priorities at the moment. With the political climate and high raise in rent my one of my main focus is finding funding and creating a self-sufficient income salaries for my staff and myself, my second main focus is my new upcoming project and program in partnership with TransSOCIAL, Inc which is titled” HOTS Initiative” which is a acronym for House Of The South which is a housing program created to support black and brown folks of TGNCNB+ experience with direct linkage to supportive housing for those living with HIV. Followed by this initiative is our HOTS Tenant Union program is a part of a broader network that supports grassroots groups and prioritizes community needs. This coalition is new but reflects our values in its governance, culture, programming, and staffing. It provides a platform for collective action, power and mutual support, which enhances our capacity to advocate for housing justice and environmental sustainability. By integrating these principles, our tenant union addresses immediate housing issues and contributes to long-term systemic change for Miami-Dade and Broward County’s most vulnerable populations.

I always tell folks that I do what I do because i want to see real change happening, before I got into the nonprofit sector openly to the community i saw so many issues and trauma taking place within the nonprofit sector and I have been a witness of being a victim of this trauma so I do what i do to remove these especially when it comes to black trans joy and liberation. I am also currently working on a statewide needs assessment to create real time data to disseminate to over 500 organizations in the South region of the United States. Also, we plan to host a housing location in Memphis, Tennessee and a drop-in center in the commonwealth of the Bahamas.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Survival Instance, Money counting and management, uniquely creative to do things to help bring income in such as hair styling, wig making, clothing embellishment, dancing and choreography. My skills came at a early age due to being disowned by my family at 14 years old, this cause me to jump into sex work and other risky behavior so for me I would not want no person in their journey to develop these, I was force to maintain my everyday wellbeing, but what I would do is meet folks where they are currently at and find innovative approaches to be the best version of themselves.

My lived experience and journey highlights some profound and impactful skills that I have developed out of necessity. These skills are crucial for immediate safety and long-term resilience. which include resourcefulness, adaptability, and problem-solving under pressure. Learning to make the most of what you have. This can be as simple as repurposing items or finding alternative solutions to problems. Practice staying calm in unpredictable situations and be open to change. Engage in activities that pushed me out of my comfort zone to build this skill to develop critical thinking and decision-making abilities through puzzles, games, or real-life challenges that require quick, effective solutions. Managing finances effectively is essential for stability and growth, especially when resources are limited. I had to research and educate myself about financial concepts such as interest rates, investments, and credit scores. Being creative in how I was able to generate income not only taught me financial independence but also fosters a sense of achievement and self-worth. It’s important to connect with others in your field to exchange ideas and opportunities. Social media and local communities can be great for finding support and inspiration. Always look for ways to improve and differentiate your offerings. Whether it’s through better techniques, unique designs, or exceptional customer service, innovation can set you apart. My journey underscores the importance of resilience and self-reliance. For those starting their path, it’s crucial to find their strengths, continuously learn, and stay adaptable to changes.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am always looking for new partners and folks to collaborate with, I am interested in partnering with folks, programs, initiatives and organizations that share similar interests and values, also I am strongly interested in spaces that has a different goal so we can connect and collaborate to bridge unity in the community the shift the level of education in regard to TGNCNB+ Individuals in the South. I’m looking to make revolutionary changes on an international level to make sure black transgender and nonbinary folks have a community and world where the national anthem can truly be beneficial to our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themckenzieproject.org
• Instagram: themckenzieprojectinc
• Facebook: The McKenzie Project Inc
• Linkedin: The McKenzie Project Inc
• Twitter: TMPInc_org
• Youtube: themckenzieprojectinc

Image Credits

Photos by dale photography. Photos by The McKenzie Project, Inc and community.