Jeanette Brook

Jeanette Brook blazed a trail as Valedictorian of the first graduating class from Andrew High School in 1980. She then attended Illinois State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Education with a reading minor and science specialization. She went on to teach middle school science at St. Benedict School, Preschool at Chris Lutheran Church and then was a tutor for several years. In 2009, Jeaneeete blazed a new trail as Co-Founder of One Light Self-Defense, a not-for-profit organiztion. Her team has traveled to the poorest slums in Nairobi, Kenya where girls face physical attacks everyday. Using simple self-defense techniques, 300 girls and 21 community leaders have been empowered physically, mentally, and emotionally and continue to transfer these skills to others in their community. An awareness of existing and growing physical violence compelled the team to also offer self-defense workshops for more than 6,500 people in the U.S. where they work with schools, police departments, businesses/corporations, women's groups, bhurches, Girl Scouts, and families.