Nancy Johnson
Class of 2026
Nancy Johnson has dedicated her working career and volunteerism to advancing equity, promoting social justice, and eliminating bias in housing, access to health care, employment, and education. Nancy credits her dedication to service to her roots in her Christian faith. A native of Marin County, Nancy is a widowed mother of two, grandmother of four, and great-grandmother of three.
Nancy spent her preschool and elementary school years in Marin City, where she learned at an early age what it means to love one another and that “it takes a village to raise a child.” After graduating from high school in Los Angeles, she went on to earn a GRI real estate designation in Jackson, Mississippi.
Growing up, Nancy spent most of her summers in Mississippi with her grandparents. As a teenager, Nancy experienced segregation, injustice, oppression, and intimidation. She was witness to bodily harm to others and destruction of property. She attributes these early experiences of oppression and inequity to her lifelong commitment to promoting equality for all.
Nancy’s grandparents—both her mother’s parents and her father’s—were deeply committed to social justice and inspired Nancy to become a member of the NAACP. During the Civil Rights era, Nancy served as a voter registration volunteer, registering voters across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and up the East Coast to Washington, DC.
Before becoming a licensed real estate professional, Nancy worked as a Social Services Eligibility Worker. Her work ethic was, and continues to be, grounded in the belief that as people our needs are the same, we all deserve clean air, clean water, access to healthy food, and safe shelter. She believes health care, education, and equal opportunity are essential to our quality of life, and serves her clients with dignity, empathy, and understanding.
As a licensed real estate professional, Nancy focused on first-time homebuyers, helping her clients to understand the requirements to qualify for a mortgage loan, navigate the purchasing process, and comprehend the long-term commitment of a mortgage. Refusing to participate in steering or restrictive covenants, Nancy made the difficult decision to end her Marin County real estate sales career. She then went on to work with affordable housing developers in San Francisco’s South of Market district.
Nancy remained a resident of Marin County where she continued to attend church. She happened upon a church announcement printed on fuchsia paper that led her to a position as Assistant Public Housing Manager with the Marin Housing Authority. During her tenure, Nancy became both a Section 8 Program and Quality Housing Specialist. Always concerned with families’ quality of life, she was instrumental in serving families relocated to the Bay Area after Hurricane Katrina, prior to her retirement in 2006.
Nancy has served on numerous boards and commissions. She is a founding member of the Marin City Community Development Corporation and served as President of the Community Land Corporation, an arm of the CDC. She was Chairperson of the Marin Grassroots Leadership Network for more than ten years, where the organization focused on social equity, civic engagement, and leadership development. A strong advocate for fair housing and equal employment, Nancy served as a Marin County Human Rights Commissioner and on Marin County’s Equal Employment Commission and she is a member of the Community Development Block Grant Commission. Her goal in serving on these boards has always been to ensure all segments of the county are represented and have a voice in decision-making.
Nancy is also a former publicly elected official of the Marin City Community Services District, where she served multiple terms as Chairperson. She proudly notes that Rocky Graham Park was funded and developed under her chairmanship. In addition, Nancy has served as Chairperson of the Marin City Health and Wellness Centers for several years and was instrumental in the purchase and development of the 100 Phillips Drive clinic, the expansion of the Bayview Hunters Point site, and the creation of the Terra Linda Women’s Clinic in San Rafael.
Happily retired, Nancy enjoys spending the 10:00 hour watching The Price Is Right—that is, when she is not attending community meetings or advocating for the underserved. She also enjoys spending time with friends, eating good food, listening to live music, and, from time to time, enjoying a delightful Lemon Drop.
Nancy’s hope is that the next generation of advocates and service providers will embody empathy and compassion, and will continue to be a strong voice for the vulnerable, underserved, and underrepresented.