Voices of Dog Tag: Willie Johnson
In this installment of Voices of Dog Tag, we’re featuring Chicago Cohort 2 Alum and Air Force Veteran, Willie Johnson.
Willie, originally from Mississippi, says Black History Month is especially important to him being from Mississippi’s strong history of civil rights advocacy. “For me, Black History is a celebration of the people who paved the way. Now, in 2023, we have to think about moving the needle forward and taking it to the next level. We have real people right now who are tremendous leaders who are not only Black History Month relevant but everyday relevant.” Willie feels especially inspired by Rep. Bennie Thompson, Jason Wilson, T.D. Jakes, and Dr. Myles Munroe. Willie adds, “I saw ingredients of greatness in these leaders that I use in my own recipe. It is my desire to be an agent of change.” Living and uncovering stories like “Monumental, Oscar Dunn and his radical fight in Reconstruction”, Louisiana's first Black Lt. Governor is tremendous fuel and inspiration.
Willie retired from the Air Force in 2019 and moved back to Mississippi. Initially, Willie planned to move again for a new job but, with the help of his mentor, he realized that he wanted to give back. “I’d wanted to work a standard 9 to 5 but I felt a change was needed in transition. I didn’t know what my future held. My mentor pushed me to dream bigger. I realized I want to bring value by helping people and leaving things better than I found them.” With this, Willie began thinking about his volunteer coaching in a new way. “I was unofficially coaching and wanted to put this into a structured format so I could really help people change. This gave me a greater sense of purpose.”
Willie heard about Dog Tag and felt compelled to apply after connecting with Dog Tag Alumni. After graduating, Willie says that “Dog Tag changed my business IQ and my confidence. It gave me a more realistic, strategic way of getting from A to Z.” Now living in New Orleans, Willie continues to give back to his community. “Opportunities have been endless since Dog Tag. Any time an opportunity arises, I think ‘how can I use this to bring value to someone else?’ When you take care of your community, it also takes care of you. No matter color, identity, or background."
