As we celebrate Aeon’s 40th anniversary in 2026, we’re reflecting on the residents whose lives, and milestones, have shaped the heart of our communities. One of those stories belongs to Jama.
Jama moved to the United States from Africa in 1992, eventually making his way to Minneapolis in 2001. For the past 25 years, he has called the Elliot Park neighborhood home, and for nearly all of that time, he and his family lived in an Aeon apartment that became the backdrop for their biggest moments.
In that home, Jama and his wife raised their seven children, now ages 13 to 26. Their subsidized rent made it possible to build stability while he worked full-time at the MSP airport for a rental car company, a job he has held for 25 years. One by one, they brought most of their newborns home from the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) to that same Aeon apartment. They marked birthdays, celebrated new jobs, navigated school milestones, and watched three of their children graduate from college. One daughter recently began working at HCMC – a full-circle moment that fills Jama with pride.
But Jama’s story isn’t just about what happened inside his home. It’s also about the community he helped build around it. Known for looking out for his neighbors, Jama became a strong advocate for safety and support within the building. His neighbors knew they could count on him, whether it was watching out for the kids in the hallways or calling for help when someone needed it. His presence made the community feel stronger.
This year, after decades in his Aeon home, Jama made a bittersweet move to a larger, four-bedroom apartment – something he worked hard to make possible. While excited for the next chapter, he shared how deeply he will miss the community he helped shape. “There is a lot of history in that building,” he said. “It’s been home.”
As Aeon reaches 40 years, stories like Jama’s remind us why our mission matters – because when people have a place they can rely on, generations can grow, thrive, and build a future.
