- Debra M.S. Johnson immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1970 and moved to South Brunswick in 1972
- In 1994 Debra became Township Committeewoman
- In 1997 Debra Johnson became the first directly elected black mayor
- Debra served on many South Brunswick Boards and Commissions such as the Planning Board, the Affordable Housing Commission, and the Women’s Commission. She served as liaison to various Township Departments such as the Police Department and Public Works
- With Willa Spicer, Debra began the South Brunswick annual Women’s conference that started with just 80 young women, but now annually hosts hundreds of women interested in their advancement
“I felt that I really benefited from growing up in this town. I just wanted to give something back.”
Debra Johnson reflecting on when Johnson’s Task Force on Women’s Leadership hosted its first -ever Women’s Leadership Conference