“I believe in equity and helping people get to where they want to be in life. My definition of success is impacting or improving someone else’s life.” Summer Youth Employment Program where she worked in the city manager’s office and learned hands on how local government creates policy. “The program exposed me to a career path that I never would have known about,” Johnson said. “I had a vague understanding of how important policy was until I saw it in action. I never knew how much of an impact policy could make on a person’s day-to-day life. Helping just one bill pass can increase funding to an area that will help people in need.”
Zenani Johnson, 22 University of West Florida
A passion for policymaking, educational advocacy and local government doesn’t just manifest overnight. For Zenani Johnson, it starts with a mission to help people. From a young age, Johnson has always wanted to help. Her childhood dreams bounced from mechanic to plumber to lawyer to the next popular daytime TV show judge. Johnson’s childhood passion for law and justice and ensuring that people are treated fairly has never left.
36 Pensacola Magazine
Growing up in Tallahassee, Johnson’s family served as her anchor and support system while showing her how important it is to invest in community youth, education and volunteer work. As a teenager, she served on the Palmer Munroe Teen Center Youth Advisory Board where she first learned to work on a team and plan events. From there, she joined the Leon County
It wasn’t until Johnson was in high school that she discovered Student Government Association (SGA). She served as SGA President in high school and took that interest with her to UWF where she came to study psychology, sociology and public administration. Johnson explained that her studies aligned with key areas she became an advocate for. “I enjoyed studying the human mind and how it functions, as well as learning how to better advocate for mental health, but psychology also shows us how basic needs can affect a person. Food insecurity and homelessness can affect someone’s mental health
and their overall well-being. Once we understand psychology, we can understand other areas of life,” Johnson explained. As a sophomore, Johnson pioneered UWF’s first Emergency Housing Program after witnessing a close friend struggle with homelessness. This program designed to house and assist homeless students has since been replicated by several other universities in Florida. “Going to class by day and sleeping in their car by night— I feel like that’s not something that should be happening in college. You’re not able to focus on getting your education when you’re struggling for basic needs,” Johnson said. “I believe that education is the greatest equalizer, and I want to do anything in my power to help students succeed. Anyone that wants to go to school should have the opportunity to do so, and finances, debt, food and housing shouldn’t be factors that keep them from getting an education.” Advocating for vulnerable students is something Johnson continued to pursue passionately with her work in SGA. In 2019, she made history as UWF’s first elected African-American SGA Student Body President.