Jennifer St John
Jennifer St John is the Tri-County Director at A Brighter Way, where she leads a regional office providing reentry services for formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals. Drawing on her own lived experience of incarceration, Jennifer brings empathy, understanding, and a people-centered approach to her work. She emphasizes holistic reentry, guiding clients “one relationship at a time” and helping them navigate the barriers to successful reintegration with compassion, purpose, and faith.
Her career in reentry began in May 2023 as a Peer Navigator, where she supported clients while still on parole herself. She quickly advanced through the organization, serving as Program Manager before being promoted to Tri-County Director. Jennifer credits her growth to mentorship from her CEO, Adam Grant, who recognized her potential and provided opportunities for leadership development. She has also embraced technology and social media management to better connect with clients and expand the organization’s impact.
Jennifer’s dedication to personal growth and education is evident in her academic achievements. While incarcerated, she earned two associate degrees from Jackson College—one in General Studies and one in Arts—both with a 3.9 GPA and honors in Phi Theta Kappa. She is a certified Community Health Worker and trauma-informed trained, with plans to become a peer support specialist. Her mission is deeply purpose-driven, honoring the memory of her late son and using her experiences to empower others to reclaim their lives and thrive after incarceration.
• Community Health Worker (CHW)
• Trauma-Informed Trained
• Jackson College- A.A.
• Jackson College- Associate's
• Phi Thetta Kappa: Honors
What do you attribute your success to?
First and foremost, God always. I can't do anything without him. I'm purpose-driven. I do this work because I lost my son, which kind of led me to my incarceration. So he's my purpose. I don't allow his death, or my incarceration to kind of hang over me in a way that I don't have purpose. I will say, our CEO now, Adam Grant, met me while I was still on parole, and I did the training for this job. And he saw something in me that I couldn't see. And I'm gonna say, if it wasn't for him giving me the shot, I wouldn't be where I am today, because I didn't believe in myself when he met me. I was just out, still trying to find myself, and about to get off parole. I started out at the low totem pole, and now here I am in charge of a whole office. He actually decided to move me because he knew that I could handle it. He had a lot of faith in me, and here I am.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think the hardest part in this industry is that it's not really meant for women. You know, when you think of reentry, you think of minority that's usually incarcerated. And a lot of the times, especially me, for a white woman in this industry, it can become kind of difficult sometimes. So I think the one advice that I would give would be to, one, know your purpose of why you're in this space. And the biggest one is know that you belong in this space. Your story can heal and help others. And if you've lived it, you don't owe anybody else an explanation.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in reentry work is that the field can be difficult for women and for those who don’t fit typical practitioner demographics. At the same time, lived experience is a powerful opportunity, providing unique insight and credibility in helping clients navigate systemic barriers.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both work and life are faith, purpose-driven service, compassion, and building people-centered relationships.