Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammy Johnson.
Hi Tammy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have over 22 years of experience in education and the medical field and I founded Empowering the Masses based on my own childhood experiences. I grew up in a disadvantaged situation where my family lacked basic nutrition, educational opportunities, and a positive environment. My goal is to provide education and access to basic needs so that no one will have to experience the same hardships that I experienced as a child I do believe wholeheartedly that I am who I am because I was exposed to so many opportunities. I was taught professionalism as well as work ethic and perseverance, I was given many opportunities to advance my education and taught the importance of breaking generational curses.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, the road was not smooth. Although I was taught and exposed to many opportunities, I fell along the way. I became a teenage mother. Which may on one hand seem like a detour. It actually put me back on track. I remember after giving birth to my son I did not have health insurance or an income. I was taken to a local hospital and the social worker came in to my room to speak with me regarding how I could pay for my hospital stay and delivery. The social worker made me an appointment with the Dallas County Health and Human Services to go and fill out an application for Medicaid. I went to the office that was located in Pleasant Grove at the time.
I sat that in the waiting room waiting for my social worker and my name to be called and as I sat there, I began to look around the room and the faces looked all to familiar to what I experienced growing up. I happened to look up and there was a sign on the wall and it read,” your grandmother was on public assistance and your mother too when will the cycle end”? I decided in that moment it ended with me. I never wanted my children to be hungry. I never wanted my children not to have their basic needs met. I accepted the e help to pay for my hospital stay and delivery. However, I chose to decline the food stamps and other help. Please understand that I do not believe that there is anything wrong with these resources as an aid to a better situation. I was afraid of repeating the cycle of my childhood. I saw education and employment as my ticket to success and a way to break the cycle of generational poverty.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently function as the Founder and Executive Director of Empowering the Masses. I also am an Adjunct professor for Dallas College in the Continuing Education Department where I teach many different course from Phlebotomy to EKG Tech Certification, Community Health Worker Certification as well as Patient Care Technician certification. I am most proud of this because of where I started. I love to encourage my students to look past there current situation. I ask my students to see where they could be after receiving there certification. I believe what sets me apart is that I truly see myself in many of my students.
I am most proud of pushing forward and using personal story as often as I can to encourage my students to keep moving and finish what they started. I do my best to be transparent so that my students understand that they are not experiencing anything that has not been experienced before. In my role as the founder of Empowering the Masses, I am most proud of our growth and our ability to provide resources to our community from a place of understanding and care. I am thankful and grateful to be able serve my community. I am proud of our food pantry and the families that we are able to serve each week.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
I believe that risk-taking can be noble. I love to read books about individuals who are successful in their fields. What I have discovered is that more often than not, many them had to take risk. I like to say step out on faith and walk towards your purpose. When you begin to walk towards what you believe that you were purposed to do it may not always be easy and you maybe stepping out without a safety net. But if you choose to take a risk for the good of others, you may fail, but fail forward and you will be fine. When I say fail forward, learn from what went wrong, adjust your sail and keep moving.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@empoweringthemasses.org
- Website: empoweringthemasses.org
- Instagram: @empoweringthemasses
