Miami Herald - September 15, 2006
Dani Mcclain, dmcclain@MiamiHerald.com

But after months of watching her mother on the job, Jasjuana became an expert by osmosis. She perfected her own presentation on the programs and benefits available to low-income families in Miami-Dade.

Now she travels from schools to churches to health fairs, directing her audience to resources including the Earned Income Tax Credit, KidCare and other affordable healthcare programs.

"Sometimes I think she's trying to take my job," Juanda Weathers-Shuler said with a laugh as her daughter prepared to speak to parents and teachers at Coconut Grove Elementary School's annual open house this week. "She does it just as well as I do. She's really informed."

HER GOAL: BE A DOCTOR

But Jasjuana, a sixth-grader at Herbert A. Ammons Middle School, has different career aspirations. She plans to attend Harvard Medical School to become a doctor.

The Richmond Heights family's own struggle to pay for healthcare prompted Jasjuana's decision.

"I've seen how high the prices are to get a checkup," Jasjuana said. "When I grow up I want to make it easy on people."

In June 2004 the family was deemed ineligible for Medicaid, the state-federal medical plan for the poor and disabled. Weathers-Shuler, a single mother of two, said she lost access to the program because her annual income was $12 more than the limit.

It was six months before the Department of Children and Families granted Weathers-Shuler's youngest daughter, Raekiya, coverage under Florida KidCare, a state health insurance program for children and teenagers.

At the time, Weathers-Shuler said she earned $23,000 a year.

Those six months cost her more than $2,700 in doctors' visits and medication. Raekiya, who is now 6, suffers from asthma and other health problems related to her premature birth.

Jasjuana's moonlighting for the social service agency doesn't surprise Isaac Brown, her longtime gym teacher at Frank C. Martin Elementary. He said her talent has always been processing information and passing it along to others.

SKILLED COMMUNICATOR

He watched her hone the skill last year while mentoring kindergarten students, and it's one of the reasons he selected her to be on the school's Safety Patrol.

"She was very successful at communicating with the smaller kids," Brown said.

Jasjuana, an honor roll student from first through fifth grades, won the prize two years ago at the Cinderella Ball, a community event held at R.R. Moton Elementary School and geared toward teaching girls etiquette.

At the Coconut Grove event this week, three generations of Weathers women -- including grandmother Irma Weathers, a nurse at the Center of Information and Orientation in North Miami who works with HIV/AIDS patients -- were together to hear Jasjuana make her pitch.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Grandmother, mother and little sister listened intently as Jasjuana addressed the more than 200 people seated at rows of tables in the school's cafeteria.

"Did you know many people in your community go to bed hungry every day and it's not by choice? Did you know you can get your taxes done for free if you make $34,000 or less a year?"

Weathers-Shuler stood nearby as her daughter gave the brief presentation. The mother slowly pressed her palms from chest-level toward the floor, motioning for Jasjuana to slow down. Calm down. Breathe.

"Her spirit just shines everywhere she goes," Weathers-Shuler said as she watched the girl. "She's determined to make it."

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