Uncrowned Community Builders

Anna Jean Brown was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma. She is one of 11 children, who were raised by an aunt and uncle after the death of their mother.

Anna attended a one room school house in the county because blacks were not allowed to attend the school that was only a few blocks from their home. In fact, the Earlsboro school bus often passed them on their way to or from school, but did not stop to pick them up. Anna graduated from all black Dunbar High School in Shawnee.

She first worked in the home of a local banker who recognized her qualities and offered her a job in his bank as the cafeteria manager and cook. She worked there for 20 years. She was good with accounting and wanted to become a loan officer. She went in to work early so that she could work on the proof machines. Other bank employees assisted her in learning the different positions of the banking business until a bank official issued a memo that would not permit her to advance. So she enrolled in the "Follow Through" program that the federal Government set up as a "Power Program" and attended classes after she finished work at the bank each day.

Anna graduated from St. Gregoryââ?¬â?¢s College with an Associateââ?¬â?¢s Degree. She continued her studies at Oklahoma Baptist University, where she was a Deanââ?¬â?¢s Honor Roll student. She graduated from OBU with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Annaââ?¬â?¢s career path led her to becoming a Head Start Teacherââ?¬â?¢s Aide; Day Care Homes Director; Area Coordinator for several Counties; Heat Start Nutrition Specialist; Head Start Operationââ?¬â?¢s Director and Head Start Assistant Director.

Anna had been involved in numerous community organizations, serving on the Boards of the Gordon Cooper Technology Center; Shawnee YMCA; East Central Workforce Development; Gateway; Senior Citizenââ?¬â?¢s Board; and the Program for Achieving Self Sufficiency. She has also been a member of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce; the Cartwright Noon Business and Professional Womenââ?¬â?¢s Club; Oklahoma Education Association; Student Education Association and the Shawnee Community Center Advisory Committee for the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center.

Anna has been recognized by numerous organizations including: as a Distinguished Alumni by St. Gregoryââ?¬â?¢s University; the Fred Tucker Service Award; the 1999 Diana (Distinguished International Academy of Noble Achievement) Award, Zeta Gamma #4253, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, International, Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Anna was named Oklahoma representative to the Regional Dialogue, National Commission of Working Women. She has also been involved with Operation Christmas.

Anna retired from Action, Inc. in 1999 after 22 years of service. It can be said of her that ââ?¬Å?She has stood toe to toe with business and community leaders and gently reminded them that the current organizational structure did not involve minorities or representatives of the low-income sector.ââ?¬