Anyone who works up to 60 hours a week and only makes a $14,000 salary must either love their job, or is just plain crazy. For Greensboro’s Mayor Yvonne Johnson, she simply loves it. An Aggie alumna who once protested on the streets of Greensboro as a college student, is now the first African American female to become mayor in Greensboro.

“Never in my wildest dreams then would I have imagined that on Greensboro’s 200th birthday, I would be the mayor of the city,” said Johnson. “It’s a very humbling experience, a very gratifying experience, sometimes even exhilarating.

Johnson was elected mayor in November and has already been on the move.

“I have worked hard. I am capable. I am experienced. I am qualified. I can do this. I am thankful for the citizens of Greensboro for supporting me.”

An ordinary woman who loves to fish, travel and read books by African American authors, is making extraordinary changes in the community.

“I had four initiatives as I was campaigning and all have been approved.”Johnson believes establishing one of her initiatives, the Think Tank program, among college students will give them the opportunity to speak their mind about community issues and become more involved. She also has begun a citizen’s Advisory Council on the Environment and International Advisory Council.

“I go everywhere and I may see a Hispanic, I may see an African. But I don’t see a wide variety of different ethnic groups [in Greensboro].”

Johnson is depending on college students to complete her fourth initiative.”The whole thing on social capital is building trust between people. I am going to just put that challenge in my college students hand’s because I think they will come up with some very innovative ways to do that.”

Developing new businesses in Greensboro is another must with Johnson as mayor. Bringing a Dolphinarium to Greensboro is one project that Johnson is interested in. “It’s like Sea World, but it features the dolphins, a dolphin show and scuba diving.”But it would also be a research analysis says Johnson.

“I just found out the other day that it is therapeutic to bring autistic children and down-syndrome children and allow them to interact with the dolphins. It’s remarkable.”

Not only is Johnson the mayor of Greensboro and proposes new ideas and developments to better the city of Greensboro, but she is also the Executive Director at One Step Further, a non profit organization that gives troubled children and adults second chances rather than going to prison. An anger management session, life skills workshops and a day reporting center for young men are just some of the programs that are a part of this organization. When asked about the presidential candidates, she speaks without hesitation. “I am definitely an Obama fan. I don’t mind telling. I got a sign in my yard. He taps into the hearts of people and gives them hope. People are hungry for that.”

Johnson lives by Micah 6:8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

• Ashley Withers