Dorothy Inman-Johnson
By Geneva Hackley Westley
Posted: 4:49p.m .est, October 08, 2006
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"Taking money that was meant for a different kind of area and using it for an area it was never meant for indirectly hurts those areas that can really use that money"

You need only listen to Dorothy Inman-Johnson for a few moments to know she is an artist, her words even in mere casual conversation paint pictures and create imagery that take you to the places she’s been, and the

Dorothy Inman-Johnson

experiences she’s lived. You need only a slight glimpse of her regal profile to know she must be descended from a line of Nubian queens, strong in spirit and mind and a force to be reckoned with when what she believes in is on the line.

Ms. Inman-Johnson, affectionately known as "Dot" to most everyone in the community, has proven her tenacity time and time again in the city she’s called home for more than 30 years. First as an educator and founder of an affiliate of the Children’s Defense Fund called Big Bend Stand for Children Coalition, followed by a historic career in local government.

In 1986 she became the first black woman elected to the City Commission, serving eight years as a member during which time she was elected twice by her colleagues to serve as the City’s Mayor. While on the Commission she made tremendous strides to enhance Florida’s Capital City. One of her many accomplishments includes helping to establish a downtown office in city government to oversee redevelopment in a way which preserved Tallahassee’s most unique qualities.

Downtown redevelopment is currently a hot issue in Tallahassee and Leon County. County officials have filed a lawsuit against the City of Tallahassee in an effort to prevent the city from moving forward on a plan to
extend the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) established for the Frenchtown community to the downtown area. The former Mayor and two-term City Commissioner admits she is more inclined to be on the County’s side in this debate. "Taking money that was meant for a different kind of area and using it for an area it was never meant for indirectly hurts those areas that can really use that money," she said.

Ms. Inman-Johnson managed to cultivate an extensive background in community redevelopment while an elected official, specifically in downtown redevelopment. Tallahasseans are now enjoying the fruits of the vision she introduced in the late 1980’s for downtown redevelopment and revitalization. Her plan for the development of an arts and science center in Kleman Plaza and the chain of downtown parks where the winter festival and the Saturday morning outdoor market are held was one of eight plans selected for presentation at the national Making Cities Livable Conference. Anyone who has ever been on Park Avenue downtown on a Saturday morning or on the first weekend in December for the Winter Festival can see her plan was a rousing success.

Her personal commitment to improve the lives of people and the overall quality of life of the community did not end when she left public office, as the Executive Director of the Capital Area Community Action Agency she is currently a leader and champion in the charitable community. The agency under her direction is now among the best and most effective providers of services for the poor and low income, providing emergency assistance, job training and food assistance programs among other things to the most vulnerable populations in the Leon County area.

Whether its arts, politics or education Dot Inman-Johnson is treasure for the entire Tallahassee community. Through her hard work she brings to the forefront issues that otherwise may never get the attention they deserve. During her tenure on the City Commission Ms. Inman-Johnson exposed the city’s discriminatory practice of making low income neighborhoods pay for their own sidewalks. Residents in neighborhoods like College Terrance could not rely on their tax dollars to fund sidewalk construction as other more well to do communities could. If the people in low-income communities wanted a sidewalk the city expected them to pay for it out of their own pockets, even if it meant putting liens on their homes. "I would question the city’s practice publicly at meetings. First they tried to justify the policy but I would not stop questioning," she said.

Publicly discussing this issue led to changes and ultimately the creation of a MINI PASS Program which has been instrumental in getting sidewalks in many areas in Tallahassee’s Southside.

Ms. Inman-Johnson encourages anyone who has the slightest inkling that they can make a difference in their neighborhood, town, state or world to take that leap of faith and begin the journey of service and community activism, "be alert to issues, look at situations and get active in volunteer organizations. Learn your strengths and how to improve in the areas where you lack strength. Have the courage to step out."