Youth Minds United: An Interview with Ms. Jasmine Bernard
Local & National News | November 25, 2025 | 2:30 p.m. CST

Written by: Gilbert Barnes Carter III

I sit in absolute encouragement and pride from meeting and speaking with Ms. Jasmine Bernard recently. Youth Minds United members are receiving childrens' toys, clothing, and non-perishable food item donations today at the Westwood Community Center ahead of their "Peace For the Holidays: Feed The Needy" community event on tomorrow at the community center from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Ms. Bernard's outlook for herself and our city is one more reason out of a multitude to always maintain thankfulness at the beginning of another holiday season.

1. How can more Black teenage schoolgirls have more involvement during very important civic and political campaigns in Memphis?

"Black teenage female youth can have more involvement during civic and political campaigns in Memphis by asking questions. I think curiosity is the key to staying aware and by asking questions to those around you and those in power you can find gaps in the systems around us and figure out how you can help reshape them. But the pressure should not, and can not only be on youth to create space for them in these campaigns. The adults and elected officials around us must intentionally make space for youth to have their authentic voice at the table."

"The adults and elected officials around us must intentionally make space for youth to have their authentic voice at the table." - Ms. Jasmine Bernard

2. How can older adult Memphians better relate to preteen and teenage Memphians at this time? What is at least one resource that Black teenage school children desperately need?

"The simplest way for older adult Memphians to better relate to Memphis youth is just listening to us. Additionally, understanding that adults inherently have power over young people due to the way our world is shaped and the impacts that that has on young people. You don't have to understand everything about youth, but you do have to want to support them as who they are and come to them where they are at. Considering this, one resource that Black youth need is exactly that, adults to support and come to us where we are at. Whether that is mental health or future planning, you have to want to understand us. But there also has to be an understanding that youth are not a monolith and there is no one specific guide to what it means to meet every young person where they are at."

"You don't have to understand everything about youth, but you do have to want to support them as who they are and come to them where they are at." - Ms. Jasmine Bernard

3. It is wonderful that Youth Minds United members have the initiative to share the work with other concerned citizens to end gun violence in communities across Memphis. How do you all currently do that?

"Our current work around gun violence is majority advocacy. So having press conferences to talk about the impacts of gun violence, posting on social media, and informing people we know. Stay tuned for more though!"

4. Please share more details about the upcoming "Peace for the Holidays: Feed The Needy" community event!

"Youth Minds United is hosting 'Peace for the Holidays' on Wednesday, November 26 from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Westwood Community Center. If you truly support the youth, show it — donate food items on Tuesday, November 25 at the Westwood Community Center or give at $YouthMindsUnited1."

5. What is your current role with Youth Minds United? What are your current personal and professional goals as a junior at University High School?

"I am the co-founder of Youth Minds United with Mr. Johnathan Isom. I would say that I have a significant amount of activity and responsibility to increase our outreach and communications capacity. My current personal and professional goals revolve a lot around building stronger community connections around environmental justice and making decisions about college, as well as furthering the work I do in all the community organizations I am a part of such as YMU. To sum it up, I think a lot of my goals just involve me improving myself and becoming a better organizer."

"My current personal and professional goals revolve a lot around building stronger community connections around environmental justice and making decisions about college, as well as furthering the work I do in all the community organizations I am a part of such as Youth Minds United." - Ms. Jasmine Bernard

Please join us to serve our fellow and less fortunate Memphians tomorrow during the "Peace For the Holidays: Feed The Needy" community event at the Westwood Community Center, 810 Western Park Drive, 38109, from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Photo Credits:

Header Photo by: Ms. Jasmine Bernard

Gilbert Barnes Carter III is a Memphis-based author, child welfare advocate, community organizer, emerging farmer, gardener, journalist, and social justice advocate. He began his social justice advocacy and work by serving as a Shelby County Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Board volunteer in 2005. He has worked since then to effectuate change for low-wage, immigrant, and migrant workers as a Temporary Workers Campaign Manager with Workers Interfaith Network; an advocate for Teamsters Local 667 sanitation workers; and a community / field organizer to uphold blight reduction, efficient public mass transit, environmental justice, food access, food justice, food security, narrative change, and public safety.