VANESSA JOHNSON, JD

Vanessa Johnson has 28 years of experience in developing, managing, sustaining and advocating for consumer responsive and community-directed health services. Of the 28 years, 14 years were spent developing and providing capacity building assistance in the form of leadership development and community mobilization programs for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) with a special emphasis on women living with HIV/AIDS.  She is an experienced facilitator and trainer with earned training certifications for a number of health related prevention interventions.

Vanessa is also an innovative program designer for peer and consumer leadership trainings and community mobilization campaigns and has proven expertise in working with community-based organizations, health departments, and members of the PLWHA community. Furthermore, Vanessa is experienced in writing successful proposals, business plans, policies and procedures (governance, personnel, and operations) and developing collaborative relationships and partnerships with a variety of institutions and organizations.
In recognition of her achievements, Vanessa was recognized by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2009. She is also the recipient of the 2007 Gloria Award (Ms. Foundation), the 2004 NYS Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Award, and the 1999 Paul G. Hearne/Association of People with Disabilities Award. Vanessa is a graduate of Temple University Law School.