Jasmyn Bowie

Jasmyn Bowie is the granddaughter of Ms. Jo Ann Bland, Foot Soldiers Park founder and one of the original foot soldiers who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday in 1965. Jasmyn was born and raised in Selma.

“I’ve been around this history my entire life because [my grandmother] raised me,” Jasmyn often says. “It’s nothing new to me. I basically say, ‘I was born into it.’”

Her dedication and pride for her hometown is shaped by the stories that Ms. Bland and her other relatives have shared with her throughout the years. She worked for the National Park Service in Selma, serving as an intern for the local Welcome Center, providing her in-depth knowledge of the city and its history. She’s also made a point to work with young people, going into local schools and promoting a drug-free environment.

Today, Jasmyn serves as the Tour Coordinator & Guide for Foot Soldiers Park. As the primary point of contact at the organization, she is instrumental in organizing the informative lectures which accompany the historic tours. As a tour guide, she offers her unique perspective on the civil rights history of Selma as a young person eager to build the city’s future.