Johnnie M. Parris Foundation

Legacy. Vision. Pride.

Our Mission

The Johnnie M. Parris Foundation mission is to inspire, empower, and connect communities to create an equitable and just society where all people thrive.

We contribute to a just society by promoting the values, vision, and work of Johnnie M. Parris.

"She was a warrior...we all stand on her shoulders as we take advantage of all the doors opened to us because she was there, willing to give her life in the battle for equality and justice for all. What a wonderful legacy she leaves."
-Patricia Stephens Due

“Mississippi had Fannie Lou Hammer. Arkansas had Daisy Bates.
Alabama had Rosa Parks.
Florida had Johnnie Mae Parris."
— Clarence and Barbara Thomas

“Mrs. Parris was a Sojourner Truth, an Angela Davis, and Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. that fought for civil rights for every man, woman, and child.” — Chester E. Fair

Johnnie Parris Spokesman - Richmond Heights Citizens Committee.jfif

A Solider of Civil Rights

Johnnie M. Parris was a fearless American civil rights leader and community organizer. With unwavering determination and a passion for justice, she devoted her life to advancing civil rights and educational equality. As a pioneer in the struggle for equality, she fearlessly challenged systemic injustices, championed equal access to education and left an indelible mark on the community. Her mission was to help create an equitable and just society for all. Key pivotal moments in her civil rights journey.

She served as a trusted field secretary for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for nearly ten years.
She founded and served as president of Miami Dade County, Florida’s first chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which she created to help integrate local schools.
She was the Florida Project Director of the historic March on Washington in 1963, and helped busloads of Florida citizens participate in this iconic march where Dr. King delivered his historic, I Have a Dream speech.
She worked with noted civil rights attorney Vernon Jordan and organized voter registration drives in Miami and throughout the state of Florida.
She coordinated the James Meredith March on Mississippi and spearheaded the Tallahassee Poor People’s March on the Florida Capitol in 1967.
She was the charter member of the Dade County Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), which honored her for her outstanding achievement.
She helped develop the food assistance program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for low income and unwed mothers.

Johnnie M. Parris Public Service Scholarship

Johnnie M. Parris Memorial Scholarship for Public Service was created to help shape the next generation of leaders committed to building an equitable society.

This scholarship is awarded to an African American high school student with aspirations to enter politics, public service, community development, social justice work or civil rights law.

Applications reopen in March 2024

2023 Scholarship Recipient
Janaysa Dorcin

Our scholarship winner is a beacon of excellence! We are thrilled to announce that Janaysa Dorcin is the 2023 winner of the Johnnie M. Parris Public Service Scholarship. We are proud to award this exceptional student for her academic brilliance, dedication, and unwavering dedication to creating an equitable society. Janaysa graduated from American Senior High School in Miami, FL with a 3.95 GPA while also earning her associate of arts degree from Miami Dade College. She served as the National Honor Society President, National English Honor Society Vice President, and also her Senior Class President. She is the 2022 Aspen Challenge Miami Grand Prize Winner, National African American Recognition Program Winner, and the Miami Herald Silver Knight Nominee for Social Science. She was an intern at Patiño Law Firm and completed four years of law academy work and participated in the District Mock Trial Competition. Janaysa will attend Harvard University in the fall where she will study political science, government, and educational equity issues, with ultimate plans to attend law school.