The charming new Nina’s Notions Paper Crafting that sits on the corner of Clinton and State St. brings craft supplies to downtown St. Johns and an inclusive space that seeks to celebrate anyone who walks through the door. Jenina’s paper crafts business has been a dream for many years. With the steadfast support of her family and friends, Nina’s Notions is up and running. Jenina is taking advantage of social media to spread the word about her new business, while still working full time for Jackson National Life Insurance Company. Her high energy and enthusiasm for the business is undeniable, as is her love for the community around her. Jenina is married to St. Johns native, Kevin Halitsky, and has lived here for 25 years. Together they’ve raised two sons, Jake 24 and Josh 19, both of whom chose MSU for higher education. Jenina has a passion for people and knows firsthand what it’s like to face challenges. Jenina and Kevin have been intentional in raising their sons to be open-minded and understand that the person on the inside is so much more important than anything seen on the outside. As a young person growing up in the outskirts of Detroit during the Gulf War, Jenina recalls what it felt like to be olive skin and to be treated differently by those who assumed she was from one of the areas of the world we were at war with. The experience of being excluded for something so surface level had a big impact on her and influences her life today. When asked about her interest in and support of the SJ Call-In Coalition, Jenina is passionate about the annual Pride festival and hopes to be involved in the event in future years. She longs to see more kindness and less hate in the world for all people, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, who hold a special place in her heart. As a downtown business owner, she wants to create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and would love to see that be true everywhere. Jenina is an advocate for marginalized communities, and wants people to feel celebrated for who they are and welcome and included everywhere. Jenina is committed to creating spaces for everyone, where every aspect of their identity is celebrated. This is evident in the intentional design of her business – her store is ADA-compliant, wheelchair-friendly and she is thoughtful and inclusive in all of her product offerings. Be sure to stop by Nina’s Notions and say hello. You may even make a new friend or two.
