Yolanda Honored

Yolanda Johnson was honored in the fall of 2008 by the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc. during its annual Salute to Black Mothers, as one of our community's "Powerful Women in the Pulpit and in Politics." She was honored in part for her servant leadership as an elected member of the Atlanta Board of Education. The annual salute took place in October.

Our Future is Education!

I am certain that the most accurate predictor of a child’s ability to have a meaningful and productive life is a quality education. In my position of Supervising Attorney with the Georgia Department of Corrections, I have been able to work directly with many of the 55,000 inmates within the state’s custody. My experience has shown me the complexity of the issues that can destroy the promise of a child’s future — many of these former public school students will tell you that learning to read would have made a big difference in their lives.

As a city, we must have an effective school system that prepares our next generation to serve and to lead our communities and our country. As a community, we must embrace and support our public schools. With the opportunity to serve on the Atlanta Board of Education as the District 6 Representative, I will keep the focus on the children, because for Atlanta, Our Future is Education, and the children are all that matter.   — Yolanda Johnson