BY WILL CHASE
Photo Credit: Bernadette’s House
The nonprofit Bernadette’s House welcomed Tanya Johnson Martin, the organization’s new CEO, in April. Johnson, who has 30 years experience in teaching and advocating for young students, Johnson Martin welcomes her new role. “Stepping into the role of CEO at Bernadette’s House isn’t a career shift, it’s an extension of my work,” she said. “The focus on mentorship for young girls and creating opportunities for them to grow and thrive is deeply intertwined with my mission as an educator and advocate, now with a specific focus —girls.”
Johnson Martin’s experiences motivate her. Her commitment to promoting equity and equality stems from a pivotal moment she experienced as a junior in high school.
“During a meeting with my guidance counselor to discuss college plans, she told me that I’d be better off attending a community college rather than a four-year university. That statement stopped me in my tracks,” Johnson Martin said. At the time, she was an above-average student with many extra-curricular activities.
“That experience opened my eyes,” she said. ”The counselor had made assumptions about me — not based on my abilities, but on the color of my skin.”
Johnson Martin set out to dismantle systemic messages that tell certain students they don’t belong.
“From that point forward, I became intentional—not only in teaching but in mentoring, empowering and advocating for policies and programs that give every student, especially those often overlooked, the opportunity to see themselves as capable, worthy and destined for greatness,” Johnson Martin said. “That moment continues to fuel my work today, both in the classroom and as CEO of Bernadette’s House, where we provide a safe, nurturing space for young girls to build confidence, develop leadership skills and believe that they belong wherever their dreams may lead.”
The nonprofit matches young girls with mentors who help them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will have a positive impact on their future. The core values of Bernadette’s House are trustworthiness, respect, excellence, belief, compassion and citizenship.
Amara Harris began her journey with Bernadette’s House as a mentee. Through her mentor’s guidance and encouragement, she blossomed into a confident young woman. A college graduate, Harris is on Bernadette’s House board and is the organization’s programming assistant. “Her evolution from participant to leader is a living example of what’s possible when a girl is nurtured in a safe, empowering environment,” Johnson Martin said. “Amara’s story reflects the heart of our mission—transforming potential into purpose.”
