 | Edith Johnson, director
10/8/2009 3:25 PM | | Edith Johnson, director |
Edith Johnson, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, is a senior project coordinator for the City of Minneapolis, coordinating community planning and development activities. She has also served as housing manager for the City of Hopkins, Minnesota, and in the Redevelopment Authority where she managed public housing and Section 8 housing developments. Edith has a long history of community leadership on nonprofit boards of directors and as a volunteer for the Minneapolis Business Partners program where she mentors youth. Edith serves as chair of the First Children’s Finance loan committee.
How did you get involved with First Children’s Finance?
Jerry Cutts and I did a project together in North Minneapolis – a “science house” in a private home where child care was part of the design and the children who participated could also do science projects. We also did the child care duplex together – two separate units where child care space was part of the building. After that, he asked me to be on the board. That was in the 1990s.
Why is First Children’s important? Why do you spend precious time working with First Children’s?
I am a great believer in education. My parents emphasized it so much. Lower income communities are also a concern for me, and First Children’s works there. I don’t want low income children to be left behind, because people without money have very few, if any, choices. It’s nice to know First Children’s puts a lot of effort into serving children from lower and moderate incomes. Before I got involved with First Children’s I was working with the City of Minneapolis developing neighborhood early learning centers in lower income neighborhoods. A lot of those children enter school without being ready. Some of them didn’t have homes. Having them prepared for school was a big deal to me.
What difference does the loan fund make for providers? Why does First Children’s have a loan fund?
First Children’s really wants to improve the quality and operational part of existing businesses. I think about how it’s provided capital and business expertise to those businesses. It has also become a leader in the child care industry in terms of helping them develop professional skills to work out their problems and to come up with more effective solutions. It’s not just about money. We want to make sure something positive and effective is done to help the children. We don’t just hand them a check. We help them.
What’s your vision for First Children’s?
I want First Children’s to be a leader in increasing accessibility, quality, affordability and availability of child care in the educational industry throughout the United States and perhaps around the world. I want all children to have access to the best child care and education that are available on this earth. First Children’s Finance is a leader in getting us to that point.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working on behalf of First Children’s?
At the top of my list is reading. I love to read everything; I pick up everything. I just want to know things. When I was growing up, my parents forced us to watch the news every single day. Then they would engage us in conversations. My civics teacher taught us about world news and what’s happening locally. They all pushed us to the limits to make sure we know what was going on everywhere. I also like to travel – opportunities to meet other people, learn how they live, their cultures, their backgrounds, about their schools and health care facilities. I enjoy being with my family and friends – sitting around talking. I love sports. I love music, especially opera and country western.
What else would you like our readers to know about you and First Children’s?
Jerry is one of the most hard working, unique executives. He really has a passion for the children he’s trying to help. First Children’s will continue to be a leader and innovator in the business of child care. We have such a unique board of directors; we will be around for a long time.
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