Jasmine Nájera’s path has been deeply rooted in the values of service, community, and empowerment. As someone who knows the heart of Santa Cruz, she is dedicated to nurturing its spirit through her leadership as CEO of Pájaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA). Her journey is a powerful testament to resilience, mentorship, and social justice—shaped by a strong family legacy of giving back and uplifting others.
From an early age, Jasmine knew that her life wouldn’t be just about personal success—it would be about helping others. Inspired by powerful role models in her family, she quickly recognized her calling to serve. In her household, service wasn’t just a value; it was a way of life, and that philosophy has shaped Jasmine’s career over the past three decades. Her journey led her to the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), where she graduated in 1997 with a degree in History. It was at UCSC that she found the support and inspiration that would guide her for years to come.
After earning her degree, Jasmine dove into the world of social work, beginning her career with Fenix Services, where she worked with youth under juvenile probation supervision. A year later, she transitioned to Children’s Behavioral Health with the County of Santa Cruz, where she honed her focus on counseling services and spent eight years serving the community. But Jasmine’s drive to further her education and expand her knowledge led her to the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) in 2005. Her time at UT Austin was pivotal. Jasmine recalls, “My Aunt took me to visit UT Austin when I was 11 while she was in graduate school there, and it formed a positive impression in my mind. So, I moved out to Texas to attend their social work program.” It was a move that not only shaped her professional path but also solidified her belief in the power of mentorship and positive role models.
After graduating in 2005, Jasmine returned to California, working in the San Francisco Bay Area at Juma Ventures, where she supported youth in financial literacy, college and career development, and counseling. But despite the opportunities in the Bay Area, Jasmine always knew that her heart was in Santa Cruz. After several years, she returned to her roots and worked for Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health in adult services, primarily in the jail system. However, her ultimate goal was always to work with youth, and when the opportunity arose, she seized it.
Then, the pandemic hit. The world shut down, and Jasmine found herself navigating the challenges of remote work—a shift that felt out of sync with her hands-on, community-centered approach—this proved to be a challenging adjustment. But her passion for service didn’t waver, and in 2022, she found a new calling at PVPSA. Jasmine’s journey with PVPSA quickly evolved into a leadership role. She fell in love with the organization’s commitment to community-centered care, its dedication to youth development, and the staff’s passion for making a real impact. In October 2022, she officially took the helm as CEO, a role that has allowed her to continue her lifelong mission of serving her community while supporting the development of others in the social work field.
PVPSA serves children, youth, and families in the Pajaro Valley region, providing a wide range of services, including mental health support, substance-use prevention, health education, and family-centered programs. In her role as CEO, Jasmine has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s workforce development initiatives, which focuses on hiring directly from the community and offering mentorship and training for the next generation of service providers.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my job is mentoring and growing our own staff,” she says. “We are proud to support the supervision and clinical growth of staff for our larger community. If we are going to continue to provide services, we need to make sure we are building pathways for people from our own community to be the ones providing those services.”
Jasmine’s dedication to community service was recognized on a national level when she joined Congressman Jimmy Panetta as his guest to the 2023 State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m so grateful Congressman Panetta uplifted our organization and the importance of youth behavioral health needs and services.”
Jasmine’s journey has come full circle. From growing up in Santa Cruz to becoming a leader in the social work field, she continues to live out the values of service that were instilled in her from a young age. Whether it’s providing mental health services to local youth or guiding the next generation of social workers, Jasmine’s legacy is one of service, strength, and a deep love for her community.
Comcast is proud to sponsor this column, which features the great work of non-profit groups supporting the Santa Cruz community.
