Women's History Month Spotlight: An Evening with Jasmine Babers-Gunn

Celebrate Women's History Month at the Rock Island Public Library as we shine a spotlight on Rock Island native Jasmine Babers-Gunn, Founder of Love Girls Magazine. Jasmine will share her inspirational story and work, as well as the importance of why, when girls speak, we should listen. Learn more about Jasmine in her biography below!

At just 15, Jasmine founded Love Girls Magazine in response to the bullying, sexism, and injustices she witnessed affecting women and girls in her community. Grounded in principles of self-esteem, social justice, and empowerment, she created the magazine to offer girls nationwide opportunities in writing, photography, event planning, and leadership. Today, Love Girls Magazine has evolved into Her Voice Media (HVM), a multimedia platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of young women through storytelling, media training, and mentorship. HVM has impacted over 50,000 girls across the country and continues to grow as a powerful force for change. 

After earning degrees in Gender and Women’s Studies and Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Jasmine built a career as a Creative Social Impact Strategist, leveraging storytelling to drive cultural conversations and brand engagement. Jasmine previously worked at the Obama Foundation as the U.S. Program Associate for the Girls Opportunity Alliance, where she supported initiatives that empower girls globally. She also served as co-chair of the global nonprofit, Peace First, and continues to champion media as a tool for social change, representation, and empowerment. 

Her expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and brand building has garnered her numerous accolades, including the L'Oréal Paris Woman of Worth Award, USA Characters Unite Award, Prudential Spirit of Community Award, The Women’s Connection Young Women of Achievement Award, and Royal Neighbors Nation of Neighbors Award, among others. She has been featured on the Harry Connick Jr. Show, Seventeen.com, and the Huffington Post.