Kanon Brown was born in D.C. and raised in Northeast. He is the oldest in a family of two sisters and four brothers. In the neighborhood where he grew up, “everybody stuck together. My family used to hang out together, at birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and graduations too.”
Brown attended the Jackie Robinson special education school. He has run a shoeshine stand with his father, sold flowers, incense and other goods, and has been a Street Sense vendor for several months.
He currently lives in his own apartment but has spent much of his life moving from one place to another, staying with friends and occasionally on the street.
What advice would you give to people who are homeless?
I’d give them this advice: Whatever you’re doing – washing windows, washing car, to make money, to make ends meet – save that money. I would advise you to put it in a savings account, or consider investing it in yourself, very carefully. And you’ve got to know how to take care of yourself. My family taught me how to survive no matter what.
You’ve got a lot of sales and service experience. Can you share some of what you’ve learned about dealing with the public?
You’ve got to talk like you’ve got some sense. You can be yourself but talk like you’ve got some sense. The tone of your voice is what matters. You’ve got to show that you like people for what they’re doing for you. That’s the big thing in the business. That’s why customer service is so important. And there are a lot of other things you can do to market yourself- pass out flyers, get on the Internet, word of mouth. The old-fashioned way is word of mouth.
What are your plans for the future?
I’d like to start an organization for young people. We could help keep drugs off the streets, do positive things, and have businesses around town. Whatever I have, I want to share it with others, and I want to make others just successful as me. I want to teach people what I know. Because it’s not just about making – it’s about surviving, period. And I recently got engaged to be married.
What would you like to say to the people who buy Street Sense from you?
I like ‘em and I love ‘em. And you know what? The ones that buy from me, pray for me. Keep praying for me. I’m going to be an inspiration to you later on, and to everybody. I’d like to bring the whole world together. We all are somebody.
What is your favorite food?
Chicken – I like it cooked all kinds of ways.
What is your favorite music?
R & B, and rap from the positive hip hop world. And I like Bruce Springsteen.
