Profile: Ms. Juanita “busy Bee” Britton

Currently, she is a partner in several retail stores including Brooks Brothers, PGA Stores and CNBC News, at the Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International airports. Additionally, she is the owner of BZB Public Relations and Marketing Consultants, specializing in community relations, retail marketing, corporation promotions and special event coordination.

Ms. Britton, a Detroit native and long time resident of Washington’s historic Anacostia is a hands-on mentor for area youth and passionate about elevating the interest and image of her neighbors and community. “I love Anacostia; it has so much beauty and a lot of potential. I’ve heard some developers refer to this community as ‘the last holdout,’ but as a resident, I believe that we have to take immediate charge of Anacostia’s economic future while we still can.” says Ms. Britton.

Steadfastly, Ms. Britton has refused to abandon Southeast where she has resided for 13 years. A well known fixture in the nation’s capital, she is the force behind the BZB Gift & Art Show, The Largest African American Department Store on the East Coast, a holiday shopping tradition, has been held annually at Shiloh Baptist Church’s Family Life Center since 1990.

She is also the owner of The Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique and will produce an upcoming documentary, Random Acts, to be released in April 2007.

About The Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique

The Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique is a uniquely decorated house located just up the hill up from the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum. The Gallery celebrated its grand opening and dedication of the Kwame Nkrumah Ancestral Garden on September 23-25, 2005. The co-directors are Ms. Georgiann Austin, Ms. Robin Adams and Ms. Juanita “Busy Bee” Britton. It features the best selection of fine art & crafts, African artifacts, ethnic home accessories and collectibles East of the River. The Gallery displays the works of approximately 75 artisans from 23 countries and highlights the multi-talents of local artists such as Francine Haskins, Antony Carr, Al Burts, TH Gommillion, Larry “Poncho” Brown, Holfus, etc. The gallery features two boutiques - Furaha's Lotus Room, sensuous products for the mind body & soul and Bae's Place, featuring unique designer clothes.

Anacostia is an emerging center for economic growth and development: the trend of resurgence surrounding the renovation of Fredrick Douglass House; the redevelopment of Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue; the building of suburban style single family homes on Good Hope Road S.E.; the much anticipated development of 75 new homes and marketplace style Giant Food Store on Camp Simms grounds and the development slated around the construction of the Washington National’s stadium makes this southeastern corner of the nation’s capitol primed for community renewal and commercial success.

Located next door to the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum, the Anacostia Art Gallery continues to build cultural synergy between the Museum, the new Town Hall Education Arts and Recreation Campus (THE ARC), and the community by hosting free art & health workshops and other interesting & unique programs. “The goal of the Anacostia Art Gallery is to foster opportunities for greater appreciation of African American and African centered history, fine art, crafts, cultural products and activities, throughout all the East of the River communities.” says Ms. Britton.

The Anacostia Art Gallery & Boutique have been featured in the Washington Post, Washington Informer, The Afro, The Washington Times, Capitol Community Newspaper (East of The River), and The Urban Flavor E-Newsletter. For more about the gallery, visit www.bzbinternational.com

About Random Acts

The Random Acts project will unite communities in Africa and the US through the common goal of giving and random acts of kindness across four countries: Senegal, Gambia, South Africa, and Swaziland. Furthermore, the project will chronicle the travels and experiences of Ms. Juanita “Busy Bee” Britton and her friends as she spontaneously expresses her love of giving and sharing with women in rural communities. For more information contact Mr. Jim Roland at 202-610-2353.