Jazzmine Nolan, 23, founded the Divine III Step Team and Mentoring Program seven years after her father, Quinton Shannon, was tragically murdered in November 2000.
After her father’s death, Nolan went through a bit of a rebellious period.
“I couldn’t express myself to my mom or other people,” Nolan said.
She found an outlet to help her through the grieving process when she joined the Gateway Middle School Step Team. The rhythmic movement of her hands and feet offered her a healthy form of self-expression, she said.
She continued stepping in high school at the Clyde C. Miller Career Academy. Between the 8th and 9th grades, she was inspired to create an organization that would provide the same opportunities for other youth in similar situations.
When she turned 18, she founded the Divine III, which is open to youth ages 10 to 18 in the St. Louis region.
“I put [the children] before my personal life because this is my dream,” said Nolan, who studies business with a non-profit concentration at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. “It’s about them and their development and them becoming bigger than they’re said to be via schools and negative press.”
Currently, there are 30 members in the group, and they attend various schools including Jennings High School, Jennings Middle School, Normandy High School, University City High School, Brittany Woods Middle School, Barbara C. Jordan Elementary School, Confluence Academy Old North, Confluence Academy South City, Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School.
As part of the program, students have done community service in nursing homes and foster homes. Nolan also tutors students before practices every week and mentors them on daily life skills.
Jamie Cook, 17, attends University City High School and joined the Divine III almost two years ago.
“If it was not for her, I don’t know how I would be doing so well in school [or be] the leader that I am today,” said Cook, who is currently the president of the Divine III. “I really appreciate her and everything that she does for us.”
Cook said she hopes to follow in Nolan’s footsteps and open her own business.
Janae Miller, 17, and Jamecah Murphy, 19, also students at U. City, each found solace in the program. Miller credits the program with helping her deal with her father’s physical disability.
“If I had never been introduced to her, I probably wouldn’t be going down the path that I am,” Murphy said, who hopes to attend Xavier University in New Orleans and become a pharmacist.
Murphy hopes to major in nursing at UMSL.
Nolan tells these students: “Your life is what you make of it. You have to take ownership of your life.”
The old adage: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ rings true within this program. Parents admire Nolan’s efforts and offer her their support.
Marcia McDuffie said Divine III has helped her 12-year-old son, Dontae McDuffie, build character and confidence.
“It takes a good person,” Marcia said. “It takes someone who’s very strong-willed and dedicated and to be so young, I have to commend her.”
For more information about The Divine III Step and Mentoring Program, please call Jazzmine Nolan at 314-814-6285.
