Martin Luther King Jr. Observance

Noon - 1:00 pm |

Via Zoom

Speaker, Jasmine Harris.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Student Leadership and Organizations office would like to invite students, faculty, and staff to join us as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy.  On January 15th, Jasmine Harris will present from noon-1 pm on Zoom. 

Event Description

Martin Luther King Jr. spent his adult life fighting for the equal treatment of Black people and eradication of racism in America. In his last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”, he expressed that he had been to the top of the mountain and saw the Promised Land. The Promised Land he talked about included equal treatment and integration. But, have we actually reached this mountain top? Today, Jasmine will ask us all, to take an inward look and attempt to answer the question, “How far is it to the mountaintop?” As she addresses the difference between equality, equity, racism and anti-racism, Jasmine will discuss the importance of the renewed commitment we must all take to ensure we are able to make it to the mountaintop and beyond…together.  

Jasmine L. Harris, is the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at RISE. She received her Masters of Public Health degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with an emphasis in Community Health Education. Her community involvement began with prevention and policy efforts working with the LiveWise and MOTAC coalitions to reduce the usage of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in greater Omaha. It didn’t take long before Jasmine realized that her skills and experience with policy and prevention efforts aligned with her passions for criminal and juvenile justice reform, social justice issues and women’s rights. As opportunities presented themselves, Jasmine became more involved in promoting change in the community. Her advocacy and civic engagement efforts include being a founding member of and chairing the Nebraska Unity Political Action Committee, Women’s Fund of Omaha Circles Class 6 and part of the 2018 & 2019 Circles Leadership Team, Secretary for the Nebraska Civic Engagement Table Board of Directors and establishing Black & Brown Legislative Day as the former Civic Engagement Committee Chair for the Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals. In 2017, Jasmine was awarded the Omaha NAACP Freedom Fighter Award and was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Omahans (TOYO) by the Omaha Jaycees. In 2020, she received a Greater Chamber of Omaha Young Professionals Change Maker Awards. Jasmine is currently a candidate to become the next Mayor of Omaha.