Yasmine Arrington Brooks is the Founder and Executive Director of ScholarCHIPS, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to providing college scholarships, mentoring, and mental health support for children of incarcerated parents. Growing up with an incarcerated father, Yasmine experienced the emotional and financial burdens firsthand. When she discovered a lack of resources for this population as a high school junior, she decided to create the solution herself.
Since 2012, ScholarCHIPS has awarded over $600,000 in scholarships to more than 120 scholars. A multifaceted force of nature, Yasmine holds degrees from Elon University and Howard University School of Divinity. Her impactful work has earned her recognition as a 2025 L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, a 2023 CNN Hero, and features in Vogue, Essence, and Vanity Fair. As an author, poet, plus-size model, and advocate, Yasmine helps others turn their pain into purpose, proving that community support can break the cycle of incarceration and empower the next generation.