By Dixie Ann Black
Colonel Josefa Benjamin was born with a purpose.
She began her journey toward this purpose as a Communications Dispatcher with the Broward Sherrif’s Office (BSO) in 1993. Benjamin had recently relocated to Florida from Brooklyn, New York.
“I often say that Corrections chose me,” Retired Colonel Benjamin reflects, “I didn’t grow up thinking I was going to be a Corrections Officer. I thought I was going to be an attorney. But I started as a Communications Dispatcher because, to be honest, I was a single mother, and I needed a job. But God already knew the master plan.” She adds.
In two years, Benjamin transitioned from communications to corrections. One of her first job assignments was what was called Boot Camp in those days.
“Even before I knew what purpose was, I knew that I would do this for free, because I absolutely loved working with the youth.”
The program diverted troubled youth from a long-term sentence to the military training unit. Initially she worked primarily with young men and saw it as an opportunity to help them. The young men ranged in age from fourteen to twenty-two and they were already in the system, having committed some sort of crime. This program deferred their sentence if they completed it successfully.
Deputy Benjamin later became certified as a Drill Instructor seeing this as an opportunity to help the young men, thereby transforming her work from a job to a purpose. She was so passionate about it that she also became a certified Drill Sergeant.
It became common during this period, for Deputy Benjamin to be going about life in her community and suddenly hear someone shout, “Drill Instructor Benjamin!”
She would turn around and see a young man who had come through her program and was now working. She recalls one young man in particular who, having turned his life around, showed up at her door to deliver her UPS package.
“He was just so proud to run into me and to say, the program made such a difference in his life. He thanked me specifically for my influence in his life. Those kinds of incidents happened time and time again and they still happen to this day.”
“On the flip side, I was driving in to work one day and a young man was begging for money on the side of the road. I recognized him from the program and called his name. I asked him, ‘What happened?’ His response was, “I didn’t listen.”
She reflects, “The positive impact means something, but both positive and negative results fuel me to continue. I don’t look around to see who is going to do it. I say, ‘Lord, you called me to do this work’ and I’m not going to stop until He says, ‘Well Done!’”
The Colonel/Single mother practiced at home what she taught at work.
“I didn’t play the radio.” She explains her euphemism by adding, “they, (her children), had their own private boot camp at home.” She also credits much of her success, and theirs, to having good family support.
Benjamin retired from BSO early in 2024 after serving as the Colonel over Corrections and Community Programs. She had formed partnerships and developed mentor/mentee relationships in Broward County and beyond during her years at BSO, but retirement has fueled and clarified her purpose even more. She created “Brunch on Purpose” and set about developing the details of the organization. This includes helping people to understand that each person is “Born on Purpose”. Through mentorship and training in her community, offered by her organization, Benjamin aims to help awaken each person’s purpose within them.
The first Brunch, held in 2022, titled ‘Honoring Women in Public Service’, led with a theme of “Taking Care of Ourselves as We Take Care of The Community”. Calvary Chapel sponsored this event.
“It blew my mind. Two hundred and fifty women showed up for this inaugural brunch. I said, Lord I must have heard you correctly. Last year the theme was “Stronger Together”. “My mind was blown even more with three hundred and fifty women attending. Stepping out on faith this year, we changed venue as we’ve opened it up to men as well. We are expecting five hundred to attend.”
Benjamin’s expectations appear to be realistic. Jackie Vernon-Thompson, the owner of From the Inside-Out School of Etiquette, LLC., has attended Brunch on Purpose. She highlighted the power of proper etiquette in the building of community and shared her respect for Benjamin. She was, “Extremely impressed because Benjamin emphasized the importance of taking care of each other.” She added that she will be at the upcoming brunch.
Sherea Green, Director of Miami-Dade Correction & Rehabilitation Department had effusive praise for both the Brunch and Benjamin’s leadership. She said, “I have had many impactful experiences, but few compared to the heartfelt and transformative moments I encountered at Brunch On Purpose.”
The theme of this year’s brunch is “You’re the One”.
Benjamin explains this year’s shifting from focusing only on women in public service. ”The heart behind the theme is being able to be the one who changes things for generations to come, impacting their own home, community and leaving a legacy.”
It appears Benjamin’s brunches are well on their way to creating that legacy.
Colonel Benjamin is overflowing with plans to expand the organization through initiatives that positively impact the community. Key is the component of building a community of mentors who will be able to work with the support within their individual communities to bring about needed change.
Also, key is the team of volunteers and other supporters coming on board in anticipation of grant writing to support new initiatives. Benjamin’s role as founder will be supported by Dawn Watts who is coming on board as the Born On Purpose’s Executive Director.
Proceeds from the brunch will be reinvested in the organization to fuel the initiatives. Training and investing in mentors who then serve the communities remains a key component of the Born On Purpose project which is the umbrella organization under which there are community based initiatives, the physical headquarters/ event space and the annual brunch.
In describing the landscape ahead Benjamin says, “I see Born On Purpose being one of the leading agencies and recognized as one of the organizations that is making clear, tangible, undeniable impact in the community. What that looks like is success story after success story. Testimony based on what we have poured into youth and other age groups like moms and dads that have been overlooked. Those in the community doing the work need to be refueled. We want to make sure that we are not missing anyone, so that TOGETHER we can impact the community for generations to come.
“Beyond our vision and our mission there are two things that Born on Purpose believes: that when someone understands that they have a purpose and when they identify what their purpose is, they operate differently. They are focused, they are more intentional and it’s a pathway to success. On this journey there are so many of us operating without even knowing that we have a purpose. The purpose is like a fingerprint. So, knowing that we have a purpose and then discovering what that purpose is, is a pathway to success. And success is not amassing things because you can get the car, job, etc. and still feel empty.”
Brunch on Purpose will be held on Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. -2 pm. at Charles Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines. If “You’re the One”, come be inspired and refueled by your own sense of purpose. Be sure to check out BornOnPurposeproject.org for more information.