[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E291-E292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN TRIBUTE TO LOUVENIA JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2008

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
woman of faith,

[[Page E292]]

journalist, businesswoman, communicator and grassroots activist from 
the Fourth Congressional District. Mrs. Louvenia Johnson passed away on 
February 27, at the age of 96.
  Born in McDermott, Arkansas, Mrs. Johnson relocated to Milwaukee in 
1939, with her husband, Paul Johnson, who preceded her in death. She 
worked in the health care field as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was 
Executive Director of Project Focal Point, a youth and elderly service 
agency. After retirement in 1981, she established ``The Christian 
Times'' with three others: Nathan Conyers, Lynda Jackson-Conyers, and 
the late Luther Golden. The weekly newspaper was devoted to church news 
within the city's African American faith community. The paper was 
renamed ``The Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper'' as it began to cover 
more general community news. The Christian Times remains as a standing 
feature section of that newspaper to this day.
  Louvenia Johnson established ``The Black Excellence Awards Program'' 
in 1985, to recognize the good works of ordinary people from 
Milwaukee's black community whose accomplishments had gone unnoticed. 
The awards program observed its 23rd year on February 15, 2008. More 
than 680 local citizens whose activities have benefited all of 
Milwaukee have been recipients of the award.
  Mrs. Johnson established The Louvenia Johnson Journalism Scholarship 
Fund in 1988 to assist college-bound high school graduates who wished 
to pursue careers in print and broadcast journalism. She initially 
funded the scholarship with money from her Social Security benefits. 
The scholarship funds are awarded during The Black Excellence Awards 
Program. To date, more than $350,000 has been awarded to area students 
through this non-profit, charitable organization. Previous scholarship 
recipients include Jamaal Abdul-Alim, an urban affairs reporter for the 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; and Silvia Acevedo, news reporter for WTMJ-
TV/Channel 4 in Milwaukee.
  Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to pay tribute to 
Louvenia Johnson who is survived by her siblings, Mr. Harvey Williams, 
Mrs. Algenora Davenport, nieces, nephews and many friends. Mrs. Johnson 
has made a positive impact on Milwaukee and her contributions and 
legacy continue to benefit the citizens of the Fourth Congressional 
District.

                          ____________________