Pathwaves’ mission and values inspired Jasmine Walters, Fellow at Best Starts for Kids (Best Starts), to consider early childhood as an entry point into the policy advocacy arena. As a Black woman with a fresh graduate degree in Policy and Analysis, she was seeking a role in which her lived experience would be valued alongside her education and professional accomplishments. Jessica Tollenaar Cafferty, placement site supervisor and Best Starts Co-Lead, shares, “There hasn’t been a pipeline for women of color to enter policy making roles in this capacity before. The sector isn’t going to change overnight, but Best Starts is excited to partner with Pathwaves and be a part of that shift.” Jasmine recalls the Best Starts job description stood out to her in particular because they sought a Fellow who “wasn’t afraid to come up with creative solutions to unique challenges.” She shares, “working within a government agency to leverage power and influence felt like a space for me to continue to develop and practice anti-racist leadership in a new way.”
When it comes to systems change, Jasmine and Jessica agree that everyone has a role to play. Jessica explains, “I am so grateful to the people who are doing grassroots organizing. We need them. We also need people working within the systems to learn how to navigate and leverage them to meet community needs.” Jasmine is positioned with the Best Starts team to do just that, change the system from within. She shares, “We need people in these policy making spaces who are vouching for our communities. I am uniquely positioned to uplift the voices of BIPOC leaders, youth and families, and other members of the community through my role at Best Starts and as a Pathwaves Fellow.” It is a slow and sometimes discouraging process, but Jasmine is determined to see the transformation through.
A long-term commitment to systems change has been keeping the team at Best Starts focused and grounded during this challenging political moment. Jasmine reflects, “This partnership with Pathwaves isn’t a beginning or an ending. It is a continuation of work that has started before me and hopefully will continue beyond my presence at Best Starts because a commitment to racial justice in early childhood policy is at the heart of our mission and not just a project for me as a Fellow.” This felt like a timely reminder for Jessica, “I am reminded of when the second levy passed and we got funding for child care. It was a big win, and in that moment I was able to look back on the work that we had been building upon to reach that goal, starting with race and identity task forces in the 90s. A multigenerational impact has been brewing and we are lucky to be a part of some pivotal choices moving child care one step closer to meeting the needs of every child and family.”
Throughout the first year of the Fellowship, Jasmine has been making her own mark on the early childhood policy sector through her work at Best Starts. Jessica provides some context, “The Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) has worked with Best Starts in various capacities for the last 30 years. However, they reached out this year with a specific request for support understanding the barriers that Black child care providers are experiencing systematically for subsidy support.” For Jasmine, this project has been an opportunity to make a real impact. “I didn’t want to just come in and learn and grow as an individual and not utilize my skills and positionality to contribute to systems change. I approach my work with BCDI with a lot of intentionality, especially as I engage with other government agencies like the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning and the state’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families.” Jasmine has also been working with the Eastside Pathways Collaborative Action Network (CAN) as a coalition member. Through her work with CAN, Jasmine is working toward improved access to education and transportation to support positive outcomes for Black children and families within Eastern King County.
Looking ahead, Jessica is invested in nurturing Jasmine’s continued growth as a leader in the early childhood policy space. “I think Jasmine is very well suited for systems change work with Best Starts. It is my job to support her as she learns how to navigate the systems for herself, but she already has skills, expertise, and life experiences that perfectly position her to be an impactful leader.” Jasmine is up for the challenge. “We have over a year left in the Fellowship, and there is so much work to be done. Best Starts’ commitment to racial justice preceded me, and will continue to be after the Fellowship concludes. I am grateful to be a part of it.”
