Jennifer Harris showed up at LiveWorkPlay ten years ago as a young woman who had taken very few steps on her own beyond the family home in Stittsville. She's often good for a memorable quote, like 1998's "I've never walked to Canadian Tire before!"

She's also known for more serious thoughts, and is often called upon as a speaker and presenter. She was part of the United Way/Centraide Ottawa Speaker's Bureau last fall, and made a presentation to one of LiveWorkPlay's corporate partners a week after this shoot. And come to think of it, she was interviewed by CTV Ottawa television about her role as a volunter at the Heartwood House OC Transpo Lost & Found a week or so before that.

Jennifer has been competitively employed in the past but at this time in her life has decided to expand her skill set as a core member of the Lost & Found team, where she has multiple duties. There are customers to serve at the counter and on the phone, but there is also work with computers and databases.

Having an identity as a strong self-advocate is something that grew over time, because it requires confronting some of the harsh realities of the world. Thinking about unfair treatment past and present is painful. Being an advocate for yourself and speaking up about issues on behalf of others is a personal risk - you are chosing to put your own emotions on the line in the pursuit of educating others and creating a better world for future generations.

Like the other Jen (Jenny Dobson) Jennifer Harris is one of those "LiveWorkPlay pioneers." She's tried just about everything we've every piloted. That owes at least in part to her very strong sense of duty towards others. The challenge has been to develop a sense of duty about herself. This has been building over the years, especially since Jennifer moved out into her own condo. She doesn't talk about it much and certainly doesn't boast about it, but she's very proud of her home ownership and of her healthy relationship with her roommate.

It's hard to describe the inner Jennifer Harris. Let's just say "She has many layers, including a wicked sense of humour that is balanced by deeply serious introspection."