Jae Brown is an Emergency Response Specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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[tab:About the Talk]
Jae Brown: Second Chances
Jae Brown, recently honored by GeorgiaTrend Magazine as one of the top 40 Georgians under 40, stopped by Grady High to share an hour of his time with the students. Brown talked about a problem he faced as a young man: he had a criminal record. Even though he had served in the army and attended college, his record made it hard for him to find a job after his term of service with the military ended. Despite rejection, despite having to submit hundreds of resumes, Brown kept his spirits up and persisted in job hunting. Sureenough, his dedication paid off and he found an employer who told him, “I’ll judge you based on the content of your character, not on one mistake from your past.” Brown was promoted 3 times within 3 years at his first job – and his upward trajectory has stayed with him from that first job he landed in 2001.
Today, Brown works as an Emergency Response Specialist at CDC. His boss, Brown shared with the students, reports directly to the President of the United States. Brown is also responsible for developing national standards for laboratories in which 70 of the world’s most dangerous chemical agents – including Anthrax and Ebola – are studied.
Brown confided to the students that his life has had its share of mistakes. In the face of
his most difficult times, Brown explained, he remained honest, kind and hardworking –
and he’s “doing pretty damn good in life right now.” Before heading back to his office
at CDC, Brown gave the students some food for though: maybe he would be even more
accomplished if he hadn’t made some mistakes as a young man, but perhaps the opposite
would be true. Perhaps he would be less successful – because his mistakes have taught
him so much.
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Jae Brown has over 12 years of professional experience spanning several levels of government up to the Cabinet level of the federal government. For more than 5 years he has served as a public health professional working in various positions from a director for a state public health program to a national emergency coordinator lead in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Select Agents and Toxins. He is a member of US Department of Health and Human Services Emerging Leaders Class of 2009.
Mr. Brown is an Emergency Response Specialist at CDC. He works to establish national guidelines for the setup and operation of research laboratories that handle 70 of the world’s most dangerous chemical agents – including Anthrax and Ebola. Mr. Brown is also an entrepreneur who has launched three private ventures in and around the Atlanta area.
[tab:Student Comments]
- I especially was inspired with the advice of you never know when a second chance will become your last chance. This nugget of wisdom really stuck with me.
- You gave me the instruction to want to strive harder to reach my goals in life.
- It’s true that you can always get back up every time you get knocked down.
- The best part of the speech was when you (said)…don’t let your past life bring you down.
- After hearing your speech I want to go straight home and research more scholarships and programs. I feel really encouraged to achieve my dreams. Thank you.
- I know now that it is not too late for me to aspire for better things and have a good future.
- Thank you for enlightening me on 2nd chances.
- Your life stories and reflections were very inspiring and put everything in perspective.
- Your stories were very inspirational.
- I feel as though your speaking time has touched my life and has allowed me to view aspects in my life differently.
- I will most definitely use what you talked about in my own life.
- Speaking to us about your life experiences showed me to always do my best and work hard at everything.
- Thank you for speaking with us.
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Jae Brown: Second Chances and Last Chances from Grady Talks on Vimeo.