Jasmine Bethea
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Rooted Advocacy Network
Rooted Advocacy Network
Jasmine Bethea is an Illinois native, wife, mother, and advocate committed to strengthening families and creating equitable opportunities for children to thrive. In 2015, Jasmine graduated from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. She continued her academic journey at Union University, earning a Master of Arts in Education, and is now pursuing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership from the American College of Education. In alignment with her dedication to educational advocacy, her doctoral research examines school communication and its impact on African American parents' confidence in their advocacy abilities. As an accomplished educator and Instructional leader, she's dedicated her career to supporting students and families in both traditional and alternative settings.
Jasmine's passion for supporting families and helping them feel valued, seen, and confident in their abilities to partner with their schools and challenge inequitable decisions led to the founding of Rooted Advocacy Network. Through Rooted, she works to ensure families have access to the knowledge, resources, support, and community they need to confidently advocate for their children and build positive relationships with their schools. Instead of simply quoting "It takes a village to raise a child," Jasmine aims to intentionally build a village of community advocates prepared to step in and fill the gap when parents need it most.
Jasmine's passion for supporting families and helping them feel valued, seen, and confident in their abilities to partner with their schools and challenge inequitable decisions led to the founding of Rooted Advocacy Network. Through Rooted, she works to ensure families have access to the knowledge, resources, support, and community they need to confidently advocate for their children and build positive relationships with their schools. Instead of simply quoting "It takes a village to raise a child," Jasmine aims to intentionally build a village of community advocates prepared to step in and fill the gap when parents need it most.
Why I Founded Rooted...
Throughout my life, I have felt a deep calling to serve and create meaningful impact within underserved and marginalized communities. My commitment to this work is rooted in my own experiences growing up. As a child, I experienced the challenges of having an incarcerated father, living in a home impacted by domestic violence, and spending much of my K–12 education academically behind my peers. These circumstances placed me at a significant disadvantage and could have resulted in a very different outcome.
Yet, my story took a different path because I was surrounded by family, teachers, mentors, and members of my community who believed in me, invested in my potential, loved me, and advocated for me when my parents were unable to. Their support provided me with opportunities and exposure that contributed to my success and changed the trajectory of my life. They helped me recognize possibilities beyond my circumstances and understand the transformative power of a supportive community.
For many years, I wrestled with what my calling to serve would look like and how I could turn my experiences into meaningful action. Then, one question became clear:
If a village could help change my life, what could happen if I intentionally built an organization that brought together a community of people committed to supporting children, empowering families, and removing the barriers that prevent them from fully engaging with schools and supporting their children’s educational success?
That question became the foundation for Rooted. We often hear the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child," but being a village requires more than occasional support. It means being willing to stand in the gap when families lack the knowledge, resources, relationships, or capacity to do it alone.
Rooted exists to build this village, and my prayer is that you will find your place within it.
Yet, my story took a different path because I was surrounded by family, teachers, mentors, and members of my community who believed in me, invested in my potential, loved me, and advocated for me when my parents were unable to. Their support provided me with opportunities and exposure that contributed to my success and changed the trajectory of my life. They helped me recognize possibilities beyond my circumstances and understand the transformative power of a supportive community.
For many years, I wrestled with what my calling to serve would look like and how I could turn my experiences into meaningful action. Then, one question became clear:
If a village could help change my life, what could happen if I intentionally built an organization that brought together a community of people committed to supporting children, empowering families, and removing the barriers that prevent them from fully engaging with schools and supporting their children’s educational success?
That question became the foundation for Rooted. We often hear the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child," but being a village requires more than occasional support. It means being willing to stand in the gap when families lack the knowledge, resources, relationships, or capacity to do it alone.
Rooted exists to build this village, and my prayer is that you will find your place within it.