Jo Etta Brown – Executive Vice President

An experienced advocate and passionate activist, Brown was elected Executive Vice President of the Alliance for Retired Americans in 2014 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2018.

After thirty years of corporate banking experience in California and significant community involvement, Jo Etta put her skills and interests to work with the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans in 2007, working as their Treasurer. Brown joined the Alliance Regional Board for the Western Region in 2010 and led trainings in the western states.  As a leader for the Alliance for Retired Americans Community Advocacy Network (CAN), Jo Etta Brown’s professional skills have translated seamlessly into developing Alliance activists into leaders through trainings as well as forming community alliances.

When Brown began her career in banking, few women were found in management. She found herself advocating for equal pay while working in the executive offices at American Savings Bank.

Brown was appointed to the Mayors Council under Mayor Bradley in Los Angeles where she conducted community block grant funding and urban development projects. She has testified before the United States Congress regarding Affordable Housing and Urban Development and had her work in the area of affordable housing referenced in the “Lending & Diversity” handbook used in the USC School of Business Management. Brown also assisted with the creation of a community-based bank and helped to write over 275 business plans resulting in over $10 million in loans for small businesses.

She served as the Governor of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Desert Coast Region, which services 62 clubs and over 2900 members and works to improve the lives of women and girls.  As a Douglas County Planning Commissioner, she helped to determine age standards for seniors, resulting in the first affordable housing project for seniors in the area. In 2017 Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval appointed her to the Nevada Commission for Women.

Jo Etta Brown’s awards and recognitions include: Official Seal to the City of Los Angeles from City Council for Community Service; the Olive Crest Leadership Award; the American Dream Coalition Award for Affordable Housing; the Girl Scouts Badge of Honor; and the Los Angeles African American Women Political Action Committee’s Maggie L. Walker Woman of the Year award.