Jumah Jennifer Gray-Brumskine

Jumah Jennifer Gray-Brumskine was encouraged and nurtured to value education and hard work, values she cherished and emulated throughout her life.

Originally from Liberia, Ms. Gray-Brumskine followed in her father’s footsteps by studying electricity as an elective. Upon graduation, she earned a scholarship to study in the United States. Her desire and eagerness to acquire a higher education and self-empowerment was unbending, and she eventually was accepted to and attended Yale University. She became an alumna of The Campaign School at Yale in 2011 – a nonpartisan, issue-neutral leadership program whose mission is to increase the number and influence of women in elected and appointed offices in the United States and around the world.

Attending Yale was an honor for her. Years after leaving Liberia for better opportunities, she was determined to be in a position of leadership that would help uplift Liberians, both at home and in the Diaspora, who suffered from lack of access to opportunities including education, and who experienced civil war firsthand.

Active in her Staten Island community, Ms. Gray-Brumskine was a staunch advocate and strong voice who represented and defended the Liberian community at every given opportunity. Her advocacy contributed to the granting of immigration status to thousands of undocumented Liberians in America.

Ms. Gray-Brumskine was active in numerous capacities, including Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Staten Island Liberian Community Association, and Vice President of the African Community Alliance of Staten Island. She was also Chairperson for ULAA Immigration on Deferred Enforced Departure.

A passionate and untiring personality, Ms. Gray-Brumskine co-founded the first African Parade and the Africa Heritage Festival on Staten Island.

She previously worked in the Wall Street Financial District and later became an Associate Retirement Benefits Examiner for the New York City Teachers' Retirement System. She also worked as a Field Representative at New York Cense and Director for Test and Trace New York City. She completed a program in immigrant civic leadership at the CORO New York Leadership Center.

Ms. Gray-Brumskine leaves behind a legacy to all who knew and loved her of being a highly regarded, tireless, selfless, driven, and determined female leader.