JACKSONVILLE AREA SEXUAL MINORITY YOUTH NETWORK INC

JASMYN began as a support group started by LGB teens at the Willowbranch Library in 1993. They sought peers who were also in the community, and engaged adults to facilitate the groups. When it became apparent that the group was large enough and had needs beyond what an hour each week could provide, the adults incorporated JASMYN as a nonprofit and ran it as volunteers until 1998. At that point, Cindy Watson was hired as the first Director and she started expanding the vision of the organization.

In 2019, JASMYN celebrated 25 years of serving LGBTQ young people in Jacksonville with health services, student opportunity, housing support and community engagement. In that time, it has grown to a 23 person staff, with a 3 building campus and two Boards, one for properties and one for operations.

Cindy Watson remains the CEO, having visualized and brought to fruition an organization that has served more than 20,000 young people so far.