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.

Hi Jasmine, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

Growing up young with my mother on drugs, with her being on the streets, her doing drugs, and asking strangers for money taught me early what it truly means to struggle. Those moments, when survival was the only goal, became my greatest lessons in empathy, long before I even knew what that word meant. I learned by listening. Listening to people whose stories were heavier than mine. Watching life unfold when it was just lifeing. Becoming unhoused at an early age gave me a kind of wisdom that no classroom could ever teach. That experience walked hand in hand with the true definition of generosity.

Because when you’ve had nothing, you learn how much a small act of kindness can mean. You learn to give, not for attention, not for recognition, but because you understand what it feels like to need and not have. I was taught that everyone carries different battles, different barriers, and that judgment only builds walls where love could grow. So, I give. From the heart. With faith. Not to talk about it, but to be about it. So, the next generation don’t have to fight through life like myself. My generosity was born from survival, from struggle, and from witnessing humanity at its lowest and highest.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Jasmine McKenzie, and I am the Founder and Executive Director of House of The South, a newly created Black trans-led housing program based in South Florida. My work is rooted in turning pain into purpose, transforming lived experience into systems of healing, empowerment, and community care. What began as my personal journey of survival evolved into a movement centered on creating spaces where Black transgender, gender-nonconforming, and LGBTQ+ individuals can live with dignity, access, and joy.

We are building bridges between housing, health, entrepreneurship, and creative arts. Every project we lead is grounded in a vision of liberation, not just surviving the systems that try to erase us but thriving beyond them.

What excites me most about this work is watching people bloom. Seeing someone walk through our doors broken, and then, through community care, walk back out believing in their worth that’s where the magic lives. I’m driven by those moments of transformation, by creating spaces that remind us joy is a form of resistance.

Right now, House of the south is expanding into Miami 1st LGBTQ shelter to deepen our impact in housing justice, food access, and arts-based advocacy. We’re also launching “Breathing While Black & Trans”, a multimedia storytelling project amplifying the lived experiences of Black trans communities in Miami through film, podcast, and public art.

My brand, my art, and my advocacy are all extensions of the same truth: that generosity, creativity, and justice can coexist, and that when they do, communities heal.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

When I look back over my life, the three qualities that carried me through every season are resilience, empathy, and vision.

Resilience taught me how to rise even when life tried to bury me. Growing up watching my mom navigate addiction, homelessness, and survival showed me that strength isn’t about never breaking, it’s about learning how to rebuild yourself with the same pieces that once felt shattered. I tell folks early in their journey: don’t rush your healing. Every challenge you face is also preparing you for leadership. Sit with your lessons. Let them mold you, not define you.

Empathy came from witnessing struggle, my own and others’. It’s the heartbeat of everything I do. When you can see people for who they are and not just what they’ve been through, you move differently in this world. For anyone developing this skill, start by listening. Listen to understand, not to respond. Empathy will become your greatest leadership tool.

Vision allowed me to imagine freedom when my reality said it didn’t exist. It helped me turn The McKenzie Project from an idea into a movement. To those building something new, protect your vision fiercely. Everyone won’t see what you see, and that’s okay. Keep dreaming, keep planning, and keep showing up, even when no one’s clapping for you.

The best advice I can give is this: your story is your power. Don’t hide from it, honor it, build from it, and let it light the path for others who are still finding their way.

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

Absolutely. Collaboration is the heartbeat of everything I do. House of The South, was built on the belief that liberation is a collective effort, it takes artists, healers, educators, advocates, and everyday people willing to build bridges across differences.

I’m always looking to partner with like-minded individuals and organizations who share our commitment to justice, creativity, and care, especially those focused on housing justice, HIV advocacy, climate resilience, arts and storytelling, and economic empowerment for Black TGNCNB+ communities. Whether you’re a creative looking to tell stories that heal, a funder who believes in resourcing liberation, or a community member who wants to make an impact right where you are, there’s space for you in this work.

We’re currently expanding partnerships for projects like our Breathing While Black & Trans storytelling series, the House of the South Climate Justice Initiative, and the Joy & Liberation Center expansion. These collaborations allow us to merge art, policy, and mutual aid in ways that truly transform lives.

If this mission speaks to you, I invite you to connect. You can reach me directly through The McKenzie Project’s website or follow our journey on social media (@themckenzieprojectinc). Let’s create together, build together, and show the world what generosity in action looks like.

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits

Photos by NLPG Dread

Nikkollette Wimberly
Diva Arts Dance Studio’s
Dalla Jones
Camille Lewis
Ashlee Hollerman
Jasmine McKenzie
Nastacia Buchanan
Quami Crawford