Interview with Juanita Britton

Entrepreneur Juanita Britton talks about her early entrepreneurial pursuits; traveling to Seoul, South Korea when she was 17; traveling overseas when she was a graduate student at Howard University; securing a job working with the state department so she could work with indigenous cultures overseas; the Anacostia Arts Gallery; Busy Bee Gift and Holiday Show at Shiloh Baptist Church in Anacostia; launching Red Bird water cleaning system in Senegal; and the importance of culture. Britton, who grew up in a middle class Detroit neighborhood, began her entrepreneurial pursuits selling lemonade at age 10 and expanding the business to 6 different corners by the age of 14. She held bake sales and built a relationship with the mayor so she could travel to Seoul, South Korea as an exchange student at the age of 17, and organized a reception for President Mugabe of Zimbabwe when she traveled overseas as a graduate student. Working with indigenous cultures overseas, Britton helped indigenous people sell goods at fair trade value, and she wanted as many people as possible to travel to Africa to see indigenous cultures and that life was fine in Africa. While visiting Anacostia in southeast Washington, D.C., Britton stumbled upon a house which she transformed into an art gallery and artistic community center. She was active in the Anacostia community taking neighborhood children on field trips. Britton speaks of the importance of spending time and mentoring children. She organized 78 Busy Bee Gift and Holiday Shows at the Shiloh Baptist Church over a 20-year period. Britton speaks of specific stories of artists and their successes, and teaching young people about business and entrepreneurship while they are working with her on the craft shows. Britton talks about the villages in Senegal in which she will launching Red Bird water cleaning systems; she states she figured out a way to transport the machine between communities in a single day so the communities will have clean water every day. Britton also talks about marketing events; how she brings culture into the corporate shops which she owns; East of the River artists including BK Adams; the development of an arts district in Anacostia; and the importance of involving the current community in the development. Britton - nicknamed 'Busy Bee' since she was a child - explains how her multitasking and networking abilities. Britton talks about her love of culture; anything different or unique; personal adornments; and learning other languages; and others' perceptions of culture and things that are different or unique.

Interview. Dated 20110302.