jitu brown
National Director
Jitu Brown, a committed family man married with one child, serves as the National Director for the Journey for Justice Alliance, a dynamic network of grassroots organizations spanning over 30 cities, dedicated to community-driven school improvement initiatives. Formerly, he held the esteemed position of Education Organizer at the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO).
Hailing from the Rosemoor neighborhood on the far south side of Chicago and a proud product of the Chicago Public Schools system, Jitu pursued his higher education at Eastern Arizona College and Northeastern Illinois University, majoring in Communications with a minor in Spanish.
Jitu’s journey with the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization began in 1991, where he initially volunteered his time. His dedication saw him ascend to the role of board member in 1993, eventually assuming the presidency for several years. In 2006, he transitioned to the staff as Education Organizer, marking over two decades of tireless community advocacy in the Kenwood Oakland neighborhood, particularly focusing on amplifying community voices in educational matters.
Among his many achievements, Jitu played a pivotal role in establishing the Mid-South Education Association, a grassroots advocacy group addressing the needs of local schools. Notably, they pioneered the certification of parents as Local School Council (LSC) facilitators, a groundbreaking model adopted citywide in Chicago. Additionally, KOCO, under Jitu’s leadership, has served as a beacon of guidance for organizations nationwide grappling with issues like school closures and diminishing community involvement in decision-making processes.
In 2015, Jitu made history as the organizer and participant in the landmark Dyett High School Hunger Strike, enduring a grueling 34 days, ultimately resulting in the reopening of Dyett as an open-enrollment, neighborhood school, accompanied by substantial new investments totaling over $16 million.
In addition to his advocacy work, Jitu dedicated a decade to teaching African-American history at St. Leonard’s Adult High School, the nation’s sole accredited institution exclusively serving formerly incarcerated individuals. A staunch advocate for both local action and global awareness, he has led youth leaders from KOCO on transformative journeys to the United Nations, Passamaquoddy Native American reservation in Maine, and the UN Conference on Racism in South Africa.
