My name is Jasmine Kahealani Paris.
I am many things: a Hawaiian, a Filipino, a loyal friend and a hard worker. First
and foremost, I am a parent of four keiki. Thanks to the programs and people of
INPEACE (Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture), my children have
a parent who is better able to listen to them, help them excel in school and give them a good foundation for their lives.
In 1996 I had my first child, a
baby boy. Unfortunately, I was still working and didn’t get to stay home with
him. In 1997 I had my second child, a baby girl. I made a decision at that time
to be a stay-at-home mom for awhile so I wouldn’t miss out time with my
daughter or my son.
Even though I was a stay-at-home
mom it didn’t stop me from working. Taking care of two little ones was a lot of
work. I started to feel like I wasn’t doing more with my children, so I started
calling around in the community to find out if there were programs for young
children and parents to participate in. Kamehameha
Traveling Preschool ended it’s program so I was left with very little options.
( similar to what I was looking for.
In 1999, I met Michelle Mahuka from
INPEACE. She was facilitating Nanakuli
Play Morning. I started attending that Play Morning Group with my daughter.
There was so much I was learning as a Parent and watching what my daughter was
learning at the same time. Although I enjoyed taking my daughter 3 times a week
I eventually had to go back to work.
I had a baby girl in 2000 and a
baby boy in 2001. I was working so much I missed the time with my children. I
did get to take my children to what used to be known as Nanakuli Play Morning
to what is now known as Keiki Steps - an INPEACE program - whenever I was off
or when I could. I enjoyed that time with my children there with other parents
and keiki . I decided in 2002 that I would be a stay-at-home mom again since my
youngest child was sick a lot and I was kept away from work often.
At this point I was interested in
learning more about child development and continued to take my two youngest
children to Keiki Steps and became an active parent volunteer. My eldest son
had already attended Kamehameha Preschool and was ready to head off to
Kindergarten while my eldest daughter tagged along with the youngest two
siblings.
I started taking classes through
PATCH on child development and home day care services. Keiki Steps offered
guest speakers to have workshops for the parents, which were awesome. During
the time my children were spending at Keiki Steps, thru the assessments that
were taken, I found out that my daughter had a speech problem and my son had a
hearing problem. I was referred to the best resources out there and was able to
work with my son and daughter on their level of need. I eventually was
introduced to SPARK through my INPEACE connection and enrolled my two youngest
in that program as well.
I enjoyed the interaction my
children were exposed to with other children and adults as well as my time with
my children and what I was learning but I still wanted more for them. Something
more in depth and one to one, just my child and myself. I was introduced to the
HIPPY program through Keiki O Ka Aina. I was able to enroll only my youngest
daughter in the 3-year-old program.
A year later I was able to enroll
my youngest son into the HIPPY 3-year-old program with the extension of my
daughter continuing on to the 4-year-old program. That year also gave me an
opportunity to be hired as a Parent Educator for the HIPPY program.
Both my youngest children got more
exposure to parent-interactive programs and settings than my eldest children.
This was really good for them. I just wish my eldest children had more of those
opportunities when I was home with them. My new position enabled me to be with
my children while I was working.
As my youngest children were
consistently involved with Keiki Steps, SPARK and HIPPY, I was given many
opportunities through Keiki O Ka Aina to attend ECE, Early Childhood Education
conferences and trainings as well as taking classes through the Pace program
from Honolulu Community College to further my interest, education and passion
of Early Childhood Education.
As a Parent Educator in my
community I serviced families from Ewa to Makaha. I’ve been able to reach each
individual family I ever serviced on different levels. It wasn’t until my
experience out in the community made me realize what I really wanted to do on a
professional level vs. a personal level for myself.. Once my 3-year term as a
Parent Educator ended I began taking college courses to further my education in
Early Childhood Education.
I currently work for INPEACE for
the SPARK initiative as a Community Resource Specialist. With the help of
others from different organizations who were my mentor, my support, my friend,
my trainer it allowed me to work even harder to give back to my community and
help others look for resources.
In August of 2007 I had the
pleasure to be introduced to Hank Bounds, State Superintendent of Mississippi
DOE. Hank and a couple other guest from GBA, Good Beginnings Alliance and UH
West Oahu came to visit one of SPARK’s newest project in collaboration with Maili
Elementary.
I facilitate a program founded by
SPARK called Ke Kahua O Maili, a Family-Child Interactive Project geared for K students. This workshop is held 4 times a
week. I work with the PCNC at the school to help mentor the families who
participate in this workshop. This is a FREE program and we offer fun hands on
activities, trainings, provide community outreach resources and job
opportunities as well as providing
special guest speakers to come in to provide services to the families.
I had a wonderful opportunity to
present this new program at the P-3 Summit in August 2007.
With all my experiences as a parent
and the struggles I faced looking for early educational resources for me and my
children I understand what the people in my community are faced with. There
were opportunities that I was exposed to
and mentorship I was given from those
who really stepped up to the plate to support my endeavors. I want to do the
same for the people in my community.
Three out of four of my children
graduated from Keiki Steps, SPARK and the HIPPY program and one from Kamehameha
Preschool. All of my children attend Ka
Waihona O Ka Naauao. The experience’s they were exposed to prior to entering
the school system was very positive. Each of my children transitioned very
well.
I am truly grateful to be out in
the community to expose to others my knowledge, experiences and support I can
give to my fellow neighbors and pray that the outreach of an everyday regular
person will continue on and enlighten other people’s lives.
