Jennifer Brown: A change agent in her community

LOSING A son to violence in Norwood, St James, has driven Jennifer Brown, winner of the Supreme Ventures Foundation (SVF) Supreme Heroes Programme for 2020, to become the well-known change agent she now is in her community.

Her son, Jason Anderson, was killed in a quadruple murder along Nelly Lane, Norwood, St James, on December 25, 2016. He would have celebrated his 30th birthday on December 30 that year.

Brown said she was in her worst state for a period after she lost her son, but now she is changed.

“I was bitter. I was angry with everybody, every single body, but I was at a [bad] place [in my life],” she told The Gleaner in an interview, after she was announced the winner on Friday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

She went on to add, “That same year (2016), we lost six young people (from the community). They were just shooting up the community, and so I was putting so much in the community and this happened. I was so bitter.”

Now, she has forgiven her son’s killers and gone back to being the mother figure she was before to the youth in her community.

“I would have been a mother figure, where I take the youth to school, try to find jobs for them, try to get employment for them. I would take them to the hotel. I would go as far as Lucea to look employment for them ... . I would volunteer with my ride and take them and buy them uniforms [for] who is going to training school, or who want to get a job but don’t have a black pants or a skirt and a blouse, and I would give them money at the same time,” Brown said.

As long as she has life and is in good health, Brown wants to show the youth in her inner-city community that there is more to life other than resorting to violence.

EXTENDING TO THE NEEDY

Outside of her outreach work, the entrepreneur also extends herself to the needy through her “corner shop”.

“I sell affordable things; like, I would buy the cake soap in two [and sell it]. I would cut the bully beef in two. I would sell $10 toothpaste; $50 ketchup; $20 baking powder, and stuff like that. I would do in the morning, a slice of bread with egg and a cup of tea for just$150. There is nobody who needs to be hungry or go to their bed without food,” Brown told The Gleaner.

She said she does this because she knows what it is to struggle with six children as a single mother.

It is for reasons such as these, and more, that the SVF Supreme Heroes Programme chose her as the winner from among the four nominated by the public.

The video with Brown’s nomination highlighted how she funded the construction of a bathroom for an amputee, Patrick Barker, who lives near to her in St James and could not navigate the terrain to a detached restroom. He met in an accident in 1995, which resulted in his disability.

Brown met Barker while handing out care packages to the needy in her community.

When announced as the winner of the competition, Brown was speechless.

“It’s an honour. I am humbled. This just goes to show that when you do something within your heart and not looking for repayment, God just has a way to bless you,” Brown told The Gleaner.

The 53-year-old woman wants to see the construction of a community centre before she departs from this life.

“The reason I want a community centre is to get the youth that idle on the roadside. I want a community centre to occupy the youth. I may have lost my son, but there are other sons in Norwood that this can benefit them, in them learning a skill and being more impactful to society,” Brown said.

OVERCOME WITH EMOTION

Samantha Chantrelle, managing director, Change Makers, who partnered with SVF Supreme Heroes Programme, was teary-eyed when Brown was announced the winner.

Chantrelle had to work with Brown after she was shortlisted for the competition and watched her operate in her community.

“Meeting Miss Jenny, she kind of change your life ... We sat by a tree right by her shop and after hours have passed, we not only talked about her life story and what she is doing, but she is also praying for you, she is praying for your family. She sends voice notes. It’s just a constant uplifting of your spirit. I think that’s what Ms Jenny really embodies as a hero. At the end of the day, just spending time with her just makes you feel better about you and your life, and that there is so much more out there to give,” Chantrelle said.

In addition to Brown’s victory, Elma Thompson, owner of Miss T’s Hardware in Granville, St James, was presented with the Humanitarian Award; Michael and Sophia Barnett from New Horizons Christian Outreach in Spanish Town copped the Most Innovative Award; and Corey Jackson and Andre Williams from Life Yard Restaurant were given the Most Sustainable Award.

Brown was given a special grant to further invest in her businesses and the social enterprise activities that will have an even greater impact on her community.