my heroine of the day: miss shvonne l johnson

shvonne. L. johnson.

i met shvonne back in fall of 2005. i was leaving st.kate's for michigan, and she was taking over my position as multicultural outreach coordinator position in the mips office. i spend 2 days training her for the job and had such a great time with her. when i returned back in 2006 to take over the assistant director position in mips, i remember shvonne told me that she knew we'd work together again. even after i left, she could feel that our paths would cross again.

and indeed, they did. and how grateful i am that i was given another chance to work alongside her.

in the 3 years that we were colleagues, i have learned so much from her about "truly" advocating for students of color, practicing intentional relationship building, understanding the history of race in our country and its impact on generations of african americans, connecting the power of knowledge, books, and community - and observing that racism is also negatively affecting the white community.

shvonne made me realize the importance of learning, researching, and knowing my own history. i have never met anyone who has challenged me more to make peace with the lies my education has taught me to believe in. i have never met anyone who could emotionally move everyone in a room to believe again in a world free of discrimination and oppression.

when i think of shvonne, i think about the strength and courage she carries with her everywhere she goes to ensure that people of color understand and see that they should not fear to dream because that dream is theirs to have.

shvonne has such a good heart - and i hope that life will continue to bless her with all the richness she deserves.

i thought of her today - as she spends her first official day at Howard University in DC, pursuing a master's in the history of the african diaspora, on her bush fellowship!

a true heroine in my heart.