Meet an ANYTOWN advisor: Jasmine Pearson

Meet Jasmine Pearson (center in photo from ANYTOWN 2019, wearing “Love” t-shirt)

Jasmine has been a school counselor at Grimsley for 6 years. She’s seen firsthand the impact that ANYTOWN Ambassadors (graduates of ANYTOWN) have on Grimsley’s school climate.

How long have you been involved with NCCJ and ANYTOWN?

I went up to Blowing Rock for the first time as an Advisor in the summer of 2014. Since then, I’ve been privileged enough to go up a few more times as an Advisor and Mental Health professional.

Has ANYTOWN made you show up differently at school?

ANYTOWN has definitely influenced the way I interact with students and faculty at Grimsley. There were issues that I was not even really aware of that were happening in my school until ANYTOWN delegates brought them to light for me. Going to ANYTOWN is like getting a second set of eyes for your school community. I also approach things from a different angle, knowing that I am working with families whose struggles may be compounded by lack of privilege in certain arenas. I similarly know that for some people, their identity is never validated in any other space, so it’s important that I recognize them and show up for them in an affirming way.

How have Ambassadors stepped up as leaders at Grimsley?

I can truthfully say that my Ambassadors are leaders in my school! They have positions as Club Presidents, Community Service Organizers, Student Council. They are the ones that I look to when I need help on planning or execution and they have always been up for the task. The beauty is that they can apply what they’ve learned at ANYTOWN while doing work at our school. They aren’t just in it for the service hours—they really have a vested interest in shaping a school community that all of us want to be a part of.

How has ANYTOWN made individual students show up differently?

I think the knowledge of ANYTOWN and what it is, having ANYDAYs on campus, having NCCJ come in and lead workshops and assemblies—all of those things have given students a voice and helped shape a student community that is very inclusive. Students are better advocates, they help to educate their fellow students and faculty, and I think they are less afraid to be themselves. Of course, we are not perfect, but I often hear from students that the culture at Grimsley is much more accepting than other places they have been.

If you could tell parents one thing about ANYTOWN, what would it be?

ANYTOWN can really be a life-changing experience for your student. This isn’t a program designed for one type of student – it’s for everyone. Send your students! It really is magical up on the mountain.

Anything else you would like to share?

I love ANYTOWN and my NCCJ family. I’m grateful to get to be a part of such an awesome program. I have found lifelong friends through my work with NCCJ and every year I am able to see growth in myself because of it. I am a better counselor and a better person because of ANYTOWN, and I hope others will be able to experience it for many years to come.

Meet an ANYTOWN advisor: Mike Marshall

Meet Mike Marshall (in photo: far left in second row from bottom, wearing baseball cap)

Mike Marshall has been a school counselor at Northwest Guilford for 4 years. He’s seen firsthand the impact that ANYTOWN Ambassadors (graduates of ANYTOWN who are still in high school) have on Northwest’s school climate. Since 2017, Mike has volunteered as an adult advisor at ANYTOWN.

How long have you been involved with NCCJ and ANYTOWN?

Two years.

Has ANYTOWN made you show up differently at school?

YES! The things I’ve learned sitting in sessions and trainings at ANYTOWN have absolutely affected the way I do my job. I’m more knowledgeable about a lot of topics thanks to ANYTOWN (especially LGBTQ+ issues), and can apply these things I’ve learned to further help my students!

How have Ambassadors stepped up as leaders at Northwest?

I see my ANYTOWN Ambassadors taking a bigger leadership role in school, but not in the way many would think. I see students who were once shy and reserved, now speaking out and advocating for themselves and others. I see students who were introverted, now walking with a group of friends (often from their new ANYTOWN family), and students who may have been sad or depressed in the past, walking with their heads held high and making plans for the future.

How has ANYTOWN made individual students show up differently?

Yes! One student in particular has struggled as a transgender student. I watched him at ANYTOWN go from a student who was struggling with his identity and unsure of himself, to finding a community of peers who maybe weren’t trans, or gay or bisexual, or anything else but still opened their arms and accepted him as he is regardless. I watched him evolve in that week, and I know that experience gave him the confidence to embrace his true self and he’s been living that ever since he’s been back. As a byproduct of that, his grades have improved DRAMATICALLY, he’s become more involved with his school, has a wider group of supportive friends and seems to be thriving. ANYTOWN gave him a safe environment to be his authentic self and realize that people would love him no matter what and it’s made all the difference.

Have there been any changes in how the student body interacts with each other?

Northwest is a big school, so affecting the student body as a whole is a large task. What I do see my students doing is helping make small changes in their classes or friend groups which hopefully will act as the pebble in the pond, to create ripples of change throughout this large student body.

Have you all had other programs (like ANYDAY) at Northwest and what have been the impacts of it?

We did a combined ANYDAY with Northern High School last year and it was very well received. The students appreciated hearing the thoughts and stories of kids from others schools and they requested to “do that again” and so we will hold our second ANYDAY with Northern in November again this year!

If you could tell parents one thing about ANYTOWN, what would it be?

It’s transformational in the very best sense of the word. If I told you that ANYTOWN could make your children infinitely better human beings in just five days and that transformation would have a lasting impact on their rest of their lives…..wouldn’t that be worth it?

Anything else you would like to share?

ANYTOWN is for everyone. It’s not just for “gay kids” or “trans kids” or the kids who get bullied. It’s for the bully AND the kids who get bullied. It’s for the gay and the straight, or the kids who aren’t quite sure. It’s for every race, every nationality, every religious view, because we welcome everyone… so that everyone can learn from everyone else. ANYTOWN is a bubble and for 1 week, we create the world we’d all like to live in. It’s a gift and a pleasure to be a part of it.