Mentorship, Tech, and Giving Back with Jahmai Brown

Jahmai Brown was failing every class with 55s across the board, smoking weed before school, and drifting through the hallways with no sense of direction. A principal, a report card that went home to two disappointed parents, and a mentor named Mr. Washington who told him straight what his life could become changed the path. Jahmai Brown, IT Specialist at BuzzFeed Inc., talks with Ashley Russo about the Harlem mentoring program that refocused him, the summer school exam that stood between him and graduation, and the ERG work that brought Thurgood Marshall Academy students into BuzzFeed for Black History Month. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Ask Ashley 00:43 Meet Jahmai Brown 01:19 Growing up in Harlem and finding Thurgood Marshall Academy 03:03 The mentors and Brothers on a New Direction 07:56 Turning 55s into a turnaround 11:51 Two disappointed parents and a wake up call 14:27 Missing graduation and the summer school exam 16:12 From soul food kitchen to a tech career 20:30 Leading the ERG at BuzzFeed 22:55 Black History Month and bringing students back to school 28:00 One thing he'd tell his younger self You can follow Jahmai Brown here: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahmaibrown6824b1126