Antoinette Brasson (left) is grateful for her mother, Annette Howell's (right) support and credits her for helping her advance her career.
After Hurricane Katrina upended Antoinette Brasson and her children’s life, Brasson’s mother, Annette Howell, welcomed them back to Minnesota to help reset their lives.
“She’s the reason I’m here,” Brasson said. “And now I have a career, not just a job.”
Howell was extremely supportive and put her janitorial business on hold to watch her grandchildren while Brasson worked odd hours in a customer service role at Metro Transit.
“I told her if you find something, we’ll make it work,” Howell said. “I’ll always advocate from my kids – they have opportunities I didn’t have, and I don’t want them to miss out.”
Her mother’s support helped Brasson move into different positions at Metro Transit and advance her education, including becoming an assistant transportation manager, manager of street operations, and now serving as the interim assistant director of bus administration.
“She’s the reason I was able to obtain three advanced degrees,” Brasson said. “I’m very fortunate to have a mother like her.”
Once Brasson’s children grew up, Howell wanted to return to work. Seeing how good Metro Transit was for her daughter, she became a janitor. After a terrible car accident, however, she could no longer perform those duties. Metro Transit stepped up and connected her to other roles, like her front desk role at the North Loop Garage.
“That kind of help and understanding is unheard of in today’s market,” Howell said. “I’m grateful to be working here.”
And after 4 years and counting of working together, they’re grateful to be able to work at the same company and commute together every day on the Northstar. This time together before and after work gives Brasson quality time to talk with her mother.
“Her support is the reason I’m where I am today,” Brasson said. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t tell my mom I love her.”
Brasson now hopes to support her own children throughout their lives by following her mother’s example and simple invitation.
“If someone in the family is in trouble, we need to help,” Howell said. “And you can always come back home to mom.”