The Honorable Jason Frierson: Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly
B orn and raised in Compton, California Speaker Frieson's attended public school through the ninth grade. "At that point, my parents decided to send me to a college preparatory boarding school. They recognized that I had greater potential than could be explored in the school system that existed at the time. I was also exposed to the increasing gang ac- tivity and violence that began to permeate Compton in the 1980’s. It was an expensive endeavor that certainly helped me recognize my potential, but was ultimately more than our family could afford. I fin- ished high school at a local parochial school where I knew I could get enough exposure to earn a football scholarship to the University of Nevada, Reno." Q: What was your collegiate football experience like? Playing football at UNR was nothing short of a blessing in many ways. It was obviously serving its purpose of paying for college, but it also helped me further develop the kind of discipline I did not at the time recognize would be crucial for my profes- sional and political life. As a starting member of the team, I had to remain conscious of perception and I had to recognize that I was being watched every- where I went.
Participating in Americorps fed my hunger to be fulfilled by serving others, particularly others with backgrounds similar to mine. As a youth, I had people in my life who did not give up on me and who saw something in me that I did not always see in myself. The youth I mentored and trained lacked many in their lives who could inspire them and my experience with Americorps gave me an opportunity to encourage those kids. Q: What in your upbringing inspired you to a life of public service? My parents were both public servants and instilled in me a commitment to working in an area that gave me fulfillment. I was acutely aware, even as a child, of the political atmosphere that gave rise to policies that impacted me in the inner city. I developed a natural desire to help others and public service provided me with that outlet. I’m told that even as a child, my brother said if he ever got into trouble, he would want me to rep- resent him because I had a knack for arguing my position persuasively. When I realized I had met my full potential after graduating from UNR, I began to explore options. I had always seen politics as a hobby rather than a career option. However, when mentors in my life suggested I explore apply- ing to join the charter class at the UNLV Boyd Law School, it became an obvious calling. Q: What inspired you to become a lawyer?
Q: What did you get out of being a member of Americorps?
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