Vashil Fernandez
/age: 29 | Planning and Community Development | City of Texarkana, Texas
Vashil Fernandez grew up in Jamaica in a small house with a lot of people. In doing so, he noticed the condition of the community and its resources and always felt the urge to help change it. Working in Planning and Community Development has given him the opportunity to accomplish that dream/desire and to learn so much that he can one day implement or suggest to his community back in Jamaica.
Receiving his first professional basketball contract with the Miami Heat in September of 2016 was one of Vashil’s greatest professional accomplishments. A close second to that achievement was when he was promoted to be the interim Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Texarkana, Texas.
Married for over six years to a “strong, brave, patient, caring, God-centered woman,” Vashil and Bridget, a teacher at PG Intermediate School, have three beautiful daughters, Maia, Olivia, and Kadence. When he is not at work, he can usually be found hanging out with his family, cooking/baking, or playing/coaching basketball or other games.
“The day I gave my life to Jesus and made the choice to truly follow His word was my greatest personal achievement,” Vashil admits. “I was almost 18 years old and had been baptized three years prior to that but nothing changed. But at almost 18, I had a skin problem, and the love of the people in the church really helped me through it all. I could see God’s love for me through those people and that inspired me to seek and offer that love to others.”
Vashil is the first and only person in his entire family to graduate college, and he is trying to change that outcome for his younger siblings and other relatives. He serves on various boards and committees in Texarkana, including the Salvation Army board and the Metropolitan Planning Organization Technical Committee. He is a member of Greater Texarkana Young Professionals (GTYP) and is the president/chair of the Texarkana Homeless Coalition.
In the next three years, Vashil sees himself continuing to help revitalize the downtown area, while supporting the development of revitalized neighborhoods in Texarkana, Texas. Three years from that, he sees himself contributing to the overall growth of Texarkana, decreasing the income disparity, decreasing homelessness, increasing growth in new and existing businesses, and improved infrastructure. Beyond that, he will follow wherever God leads.
Best piece of advice:
“Treat everyone with respect.” — Miss Green, Vashil’s grandmother
Name something about you that very few people know:
“I won a bronze medal in the pre-qualification tournament for the 2016 Olympics, with my national team (Jamaica).”