Yvonne Johnson facts for kids

Yvonne Johnson (born October 26, 1942 – died December 4, 2024) was an important American politician. She served as the mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina, from 2007 to 2009. Before becoming mayor, she was a member of the Greensboro City Council for 14 years. She also served as Mayor Pro-Tem for six years. Yvonne Johnson made history as the first African-American person to be Greensboro's mayor.

Yvonne Johnson's Life and Work

Early Life and Activism

Yvonne Johnson grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. She experienced segregation from a young age. Segregation meant that people of different races were kept separate. She was a Girl Scout and went to Bennett College. At college, she became involved in the civil rights movement. This movement worked for equal rights for all people.

She took part in sit-ins, which were peaceful protests. During one sit-in, she was put in jail for three days. She also marched in the famous 1963 March on Washington. She finished college in 1964. Later, she earned a master's degree from North Carolina A&T.

Helping the Community

In 1982, Yvonne Johnson became the leader of a group called One Step Further. This group helps young people in Greensboro. It offers programs like mediation to solve problems. It also provides other ways to deal with issues instead of going to court. She was the executive director of this group until 2024. Johnson also led workshops about diversity and racism.

A Leader in Greensboro

Yvonne Johnson joined the Greensboro City Council in 1993. She served on the council until 2007. From 2001 to 2007, she was the Mayor Pro-Tem. This means she was like a vice-mayor. She was the first African-American woman to hold this position.

As a city council member, she supported important projects. She helped create a civil rights museum in Greensboro. This museum is at the site of the Greensboro sit-ins. She also supported the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This group looked into events from 1979.

From 2007 to 2009, she was the mayor of Greensboro. She was the first African-American mayor of the city. In 2009, she ran for mayor again but did not win.

In 2011, she ran for a city council seat again. She won the most votes in the primary election. In November 2011, she won the election. She got her city council position back and became Mayor Pro-Tem again.

In 2010, she received the Stanley Frank Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized her long history of service. Yvonne Johnson also served on many other boards. These included Malachi House, the Women's Resource Center, and the Greensboro Arts Council.

Personal Life and Passing

Yvonne Johnson was married to Walter Johnson, who is an attorney. They had four children together. She was a member of the Episcopal church.

Yvonne Johnson passed away on December 4, 2024. She was 82 years old.