Jasmine Brown DeRousselle’s commitment to second chances while promoting economic growth makes her an ideal board member for Louisiana Parole Project.
“I recognized that GNO Inc. could help amplify the connection between reentry and workforce opportunities,” said Brown DeRousselle, chief external affairs officer for Greater New Orleans (GNO) Inc., a regional economic development nonprofit that serves 10 parishes in Southeast Louisiana. “We believe that everyone deserves that opportunity, and we see the partnership with Parole Project as an opportunity to connect a qualified but underutilized population with meaningful employment.”
Jasmine joined Parole Project’s board in 2021. The New Orleans native who went to Loyola University for undergrad and LSU Law School is deeply spiritual with a justice-driven heart. She was 23 years old – a law school student – when she joined a prison ministry through her church and started going to Angola to worship with incarcerated people once per month. Building trust with them, while sitting shoulder to shoulder and worshiping together, has only strengthened her commitment.
“That experience has deepened my passion and faith,” she said. “I believe that we are charged to forgive, and I desire to model that. Forgiveness is at the heart of second chances.”
She speaks slowly and reverently when sharing her stories about Angola. She is contemplative and thoughtful, a natural orator when she speaks, and deeply passionate about the work she felt called to do.
“Whenever I leave Angola, I feel full,” she said. “I’m closest to heaven when I’m at Angola. My duty as a believer is to embrace them with love and support. I get to hug them and treat them as humans. In those moments I feel hope and optimism.”
In 2019, she took her boyfriend (who is now her husband) to Angola on a date. The purpose was clear.
“He had already met my family, and now he was there to meet my ‘other family.’ They met him and checked him,” she said, laughing. “He got the approval and now he goes with me. If we are in town the third Sunday of the month, we are at Angola. Angola Sundays are for Angola.”
GNO Inc. and Parole Project are nonprofit collaborators, and Jasmine is happy to be involved with both. The two organizations recently worked together on a grant application, and both are committed to public safety through opportunity.
“The reality for most people who are incarcerated is that there is a release date,” said Jasmine. “For the benefit of everyone, support around those individuals is critical. It’s important for them but also for the community that they have support and opportunities. And the awareness of all of that just deepens my appreciation for this work.”
