ECNETNews, New York, NY, March 20, 2025: Jamaican-born entrepreneur and community leader Jenniffer Brown has turned a challenging childhood marked by personal loss into a lifelong commitment to education and empowerment.
“The challenges we face in childhood can inspire us to improve the lives of others. This is my story,” says Brown, President of the Westwood Old Girls’ Association (WOGA), New York Chapter.
Brown’s journey began in Petersfield, Westmoreland, where she was raised in a family of six. After losing her mother, Joyce Yvonne Spence, to a prolonged illness at the age of nine, Brown was determined to fulfill her mother’s wish for her daughters to attend the prestigious Westwood High School for Girls in Stewart Town, Trelawny.
“Westwood is one of Jamaica and the Caribbean’s oldest and most respected high schools, consistently ranked among the nation’s top ten for academic achievement,” Brown shared, highlighting its illustrious alumnae, including notable figures such as Amy Ashwood Garvey and Iris Collins.
Despite the privilege of attending Westwood, Brown faced considerable challenges. “My dad migrated to the US while I was there, and my older sister graduated before me, which meant I didn’t have my closest friend there anymore,” she recalled, emphasizing the emotional toll of her situation.
Nevertheless, Brown excelled academically and immigrated to the United States, attending Pace University. She built a successful career in legal administration, working for over two decades before becoming Chief Administration Officer at a cannabis law firm. Today, she operates her own business, JKL Productions, providing event planning and leadership training services.
In her personal life, Brown is married to her first love, Elorde “Lexy” Brown, and is a proud mother of three. However, she felt a yearning for something more.
“After graduating, I fully realized how much Westwood prepared me for life, instilling values of inclusivity and empathy in me long before those terms became mainstream,” she said.
Her realization took shape in 2014 when she hosted Westwood students attending a conference at the United Nations. “This experience highlighted the necessity for me to revive the New York chapter of the Westwood Old Girls Association to support the school in Jamaica,” she stated.
Since reviving the chapter in 2016, Brown has worked tirelessly as President, fostering strong ties with the school and enhancing its visibility and reputation.
“WOGA New York has been focused on donating laptops to the school since COVID-19 and establishing an AutoCAD lab on campus. We are now addressing the need for a second lab and improved internet connectivity,” Brown emphasized.
Achieving these goals will require substantial support. “These initiatives come with considerable costs, necessitating sponsors, donors, and active fundraising efforts. We also aim to grow our membership under our new slogan ‘Westwood Strong,’ launching a membership drive in 2025,” she added.
Brown’s efforts are guided by a fundamental belief:
“I believe that the most valuable gift we can offer anyone is a quality education. For young women today, education is essential, as it is an asset that cannot be taken away. It can shape their future like never before,” she reiterated.
For more information on joining WOGA New York, contact 929-242-9156 or email [email protected].
