Jerome identifies as Jamaican American and has grown up in Brooklyn and Manhattan his life. Jerome has a younger half brother and his mother is in his life, but they have a strained relationship because of physical abuse that she inflicted. Jerome has faced many other challenges in his life, most significantly his medical illness of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease) and mental health diagnoses of depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. Jerome did very well in school but eventually dropped out despite being brilliant. He wanted to pursue a musical career and has tried to focus on his art rather than getting a high school degree. Jerome has had difficulty in connecting with musical artists and rappers, as his circle of support and extended network is limited. Jerome first entered care due to physical abuse allegations and he moved from home to home and eventually ended up at the ACS Children's Center for two years. Few foster homes in New York City are American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible and since Jerome uses an electric wheelchair and a manual wheelchair (when his electric one breaks or malfunctions), Jerome needed to be in a space that would empower him and allow for him to be independent. Evidently, Jerome's circumstances have made him extremely independent and he was afforded his own NYCHA one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn in 2018. Jerome has steadily paid rent on time using his $700 SSI each month. He also receives SNAP benefits to provide food for himself. Jerome has reached another marker of adult hood recently. On June 5, 2020, Jerome became a father to a beautiful baby girl, named Serenity. Him and his girlfriend met while they were both living in the Children's Center. Unfortunately, both have limited support but they have matured together over the past two months and are determined to be fantastic parents. Jerome has matured significantly since the birth of his baby and is on the road to becoming a parent that he has always wanted and needed.