Beatrice's Story
To begin with, when the civil war started in Liberia things were so difficult. I remember to this day they had rockets plunging, rockets everywhere, everywhere they had rockets. It was so frightening. So we left our house and fled to another house in Monrovia – as close as going from East Baltimore to West Baltimore. And soldiers set up a machine gun and rocket launcher right behind this house. The Peace Keepers were trying to drive them back. Every time they launched rockets, we were just praying. By God’s grace our prayers were answered and we were safe and alive.
In 1997, when I got in the plane I said Lord I’m going but I don’t know how I’m going. We came to this country through Tennessee, and then we landed in Baltimore. We had no money at all – only two hundred and fifty dollars. My goal was to have a business of my own. But that was put at the back burner because when I came I saw so many immigrants and refugees that were coming and going through a similar situation – ones without family, without support – there was a lot of suffering. Through this Cathedral, I was able to start a little organization to create awareness to help other people like me – particularly Africans, who had no organization or support group focused mostly on them. I founded the Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance -- I was the director, the coordinator. ERICA is for the refugees. At least they would know that they got some support.
I now have my own business, because the simple fact here is that I had a lot of kids. Just working one salary won’t work. I had a hair salon in Monrovia. I went back in school and improved what I already know. I graduated and got a license, and opened my own shop called Tee Rose in 2007, on York Road. My seven children are all here – one just graduated from the University of Baltimore, one attending the University of North Carolina, two are at Essex community college, I have one at Morgan state, another who just graduated from high school, and another who served with the US Air Force in Afghanistan, but is home now.
So we are here. We just want that awareness created. We don’t want to feel isolated or rejected – we want to feel connected. And we cannot do it alone. So if you help create the awareness, that would be something that would be helpful.
Now, more than 15 years after arriving in the United States, Beatrice is a proud business owner and happy to share her experiences and promote immigrant entrepreneurship and give back to her community. She shared the following letter with her supporters in Spring 2013.
Dear sir/ madam,
I am Miss Beatrice Jayjay an immigrant from Liberia, West Africa. I arrived in the USA more than 16 years ago. It was a difficult transition for me and my daughter, like every new arrival from one of the most conflicted areas around the world.
My story is not about the difficulties we had to go through, but rather a success story.
I am a successful business owner. I want to give back to the refugee and immigrant community by sharing my story as a way of motivation to the community.
In the year 2007, I decided to take a leap of faith and open my own business. After working in several salons as a hair stylist, including the hair cuttery, I decided to open my own salon, which I did. Just when I opened my salon, we had the economic meltdown and things became very challenging for every business including mine. I began to wonder if it was the best decision that I ever made. But one thing I knew was the resilience of being a refugee and a women standing up to the challenges in daily life and form a war torn country and difficulties we had to go through to survive, and this situation with the economy was one of those challenges.
I am happy to say that I am still in business and my doors are open. Very grateful to all that have made this business a success for me. I am kindly asking the community to please create the awareness in our refugee and immigrant community to support my business Tee Rose Unisex Salon. We are offering to all organizations that work with the refugee and immigrant community at a discount price and a flat rate for all services.
We are located at 7214 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 32334.
Services offered: Highlight, color, relaxer, perm, wave, weave shampoo & wet set, quick weave, hair cut, scalp treatment, deep condition, protein natural hair care, braiding, eyebrow waxing, locks, nails, make up, etc.
I will highly appreciate all of your contribution in promoting my business. Thank you so much for your contribution in promoting my business.
Yours truly,
Beatrice Jayjay
In 1997, when I got in the plane I said Lord I’m going but I don’t know how I’m going. We came to this country through Tennessee, and then we landed in Baltimore. We had no money at all – only two hundred and fifty dollars. My goal was to have a business of my own. But that was put at the back burner because when I came I saw so many immigrants and refugees that were coming and going through a similar situation – ones without family, without support – there was a lot of suffering. Through this Cathedral, I was able to start a little organization to create awareness to help other people like me – particularly Africans, who had no organization or support group focused mostly on them. I founded the Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance -- I was the director, the coordinator. ERICA is for the refugees. At least they would know that they got some support.
I now have my own business, because the simple fact here is that I had a lot of kids. Just working one salary won’t work. I had a hair salon in Monrovia. I went back in school and improved what I already know. I graduated and got a license, and opened my own shop called Tee Rose in 2007, on York Road. My seven children are all here – one just graduated from the University of Baltimore, one attending the University of North Carolina, two are at Essex community college, I have one at Morgan state, another who just graduated from high school, and another who served with the US Air Force in Afghanistan, but is home now.
So we are here. We just want that awareness created. We don’t want to feel isolated or rejected – we want to feel connected. And we cannot do it alone. So if you help create the awareness, that would be something that would be helpful.
Now, more than 15 years after arriving in the United States, Beatrice is a proud business owner and happy to share her experiences and promote immigrant entrepreneurship and give back to her community. She shared the following letter with her supporters in Spring 2013.
Dear sir/ madam,
I am Miss Beatrice Jayjay an immigrant from Liberia, West Africa. I arrived in the USA more than 16 years ago. It was a difficult transition for me and my daughter, like every new arrival from one of the most conflicted areas around the world.
My story is not about the difficulties we had to go through, but rather a success story.
I am a successful business owner. I want to give back to the refugee and immigrant community by sharing my story as a way of motivation to the community.
In the year 2007, I decided to take a leap of faith and open my own business. After working in several salons as a hair stylist, including the hair cuttery, I decided to open my own salon, which I did. Just when I opened my salon, we had the economic meltdown and things became very challenging for every business including mine. I began to wonder if it was the best decision that I ever made. But one thing I knew was the resilience of being a refugee and a women standing up to the challenges in daily life and form a war torn country and difficulties we had to go through to survive, and this situation with the economy was one of those challenges.
I am happy to say that I am still in business and my doors are open. Very grateful to all that have made this business a success for me. I am kindly asking the community to please create the awareness in our refugee and immigrant community to support my business Tee Rose Unisex Salon. We are offering to all organizations that work with the refugee and immigrant community at a discount price and a flat rate for all services.
We are located at 7214 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 32334.
Services offered: Highlight, color, relaxer, perm, wave, weave shampoo & wet set, quick weave, hair cut, scalp treatment, deep condition, protein natural hair care, braiding, eyebrow waxing, locks, nails, make up, etc.
I will highly appreciate all of your contribution in promoting my business. Thank you so much for your contribution in promoting my business.
Yours truly,
Beatrice Jayjay