Shantae Brown’s 14-month-old daughter is the most heroic person she knows, she said. The toddler has health challenges that keep her from walking and sitting up.
“She’s determined,” said Brown, the mother of five other children.
A long time Norfolk resident, Brown is also resolute in her pursuits to not only survive but thrive and achieve her dreams.
The former Tidewater Gardens resident is the founder of Aqua Green Cleaning Company and Lawn Care, LLC. The enterprise offers lawn and commercial cleaning services throughout Norfolk. To secure her business credentials, Brown took advantage of services and programs introduced to her by Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) and facilitated through their community partners.
“The services that I have utilized from NRHA has been very helpful in many ways,” she said. “It gave me an extra boost to stand on what I believe I know I want for myself, and that gave me an inspiration to conquer.”
Brown, 38, is one of several former and current NRHA residents who take advantage of the Authority’s programming to help elevate them in their business and personal lives. In Brown’s case, through NRHA she was referred to the DreamBuilders program in 2020. It consisted of online classes for female and aspiring entrepreneurs, and is provided through Old Dominion University (ODU). A local church also referred her to the Bank On program, which teaches financial literacy, budgeting and credit repair.
“The DreamBuilders program definitely changed my life. At first it was like I was scared to even try it. But, I had someone who talked to me and gave me a lot of encouragement to keep pushing for it and what I wanted out of life,” she said. “And I’m so glad I listened because I was able to conquer a lot on my fears and start businesses that I didn’t think that I could do.”
Brown, now a resident in the Lafayette community, has current goals to open a company that caters to shipyard workers of all trades. She also endeavors toward a separate entity as her namesake, “I Am Shantae, LLC,” that helps other entrepreneurs, youth and adults, start and build their businesses.
NRHA Family Self Sufficiency Manager Gwen Williams said the program Brown went through, and others like it, are designed to encourage and lift residents to reach their full potential.
“We are so proud of Shantae and all our clients who utilize the tools we offer, and then apply them to their everyday lives and endeavors,” she said.
Brown, currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, said she is continually motivated to do more as an example for her children.
“I want to show my kids that there’s more to life than just being stuck, not knowing what to do and how to do it,” she said. “But if you take chances, you can reach and climb as far as you allow yourself. There are no limits.”
For more information on the NRHA Client Services Department and the programs they offer, call 757-314-1533.