By Niyah Martin, Intern
Montgomery, Ala.- Loraine Johnson is a woman driven by her unwavering devotion to God and passion for sisterhood. Johnson is the CEO and founder of Sisters With a New Standard, also known as SWANS, a non-profit organization that strives to elevate and inspire a new generation of women. SWANS provides it’s members with a sense of solidarity and strength that can only be found within it’s wings. Through its fellowship, SWANS nurtures each member by administering education, implementing mentorship, and encouraging service to the community.
Loraine McKinney Johnson was born to the late Mr. Isaac and Evangelist Annie Laura McKinney in July of 1965. Johnson was raised in the small town of Goodwater, Alabama along with her eleven siblings. She graduated from Goodwater high school in 1983 and went on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in social work from Jacksonville State University. Later, Johnson would earn a master’s degree of Science and Psychology from Troy University. In 1995, she married Kevin Lamar Johnson. The couple would go on to have six children and ten grandchildren. Currently, Johnson works as a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the state of Alabama.
In college, Johnson had high hopes of earning a spot in a sorority. However, despite her yearning, she began to realize that her path was different. Unfortunately, prior to her second marriage, Johnson was involved in a volatile and abusive marriage. After escaping, she found herself surrounded by love and support from other women.
“They were so instrumental in making sure that I had a place to live and any necessities that I needed. All I saw were other women, some in the same situation that I was in. I felt that with everything going in my life, how could I give back, to not only women in general, but to the women in this community, that received me? I started realizing that as my walk with Christ increased, I became more visual as to what God wanted for me. Instead of joining a sisterhood, I had to start one,” says Johnson.
In 2015, she took a leap of faith and launched SWANS. She also released a testament to her domestic violence journey, Married to Fear, A Testimony of Abuse and Redemption, in 2021.
SWANS began as a corner of comfort for women aged 35 and older who desired a strong bond with other women. It’s members are encouraged to reach out to one another in times of need or adversity and uplift one another. SWANS members also support each other through important milestones and jubilations.
Johnson says, “It’s a sisterhood that is geared towards uplifting, empowering and challenging women toward a new standard. The new standard concentrates on renewing the community through service, leadership, and educational initiatives. Founded on principles of comradery, love, grace and professionalism, the organization is carried by the forever bond of uplifting each sister.”
As the group began to grow, Johnson made the decision to expand the sisterhood to younger girls, through a mentorship program called the Swanzettes. The program is geared towards girls aged 12 and older. The Swanzettes participate in college tours, workplace tours, hygiene and etiquette classes and retreats. Every year, two graduating Swanzette members are eligible to receive a scholarship from the organization.
Johnson says, “In 2018, I started the Swanzettes, which is a sisterhood for young teenage girls to help prepare and expose them to a higher standard by means of mentoring, exposing and setting an example.”
Not only does SWANS nurture and care for its members, but the organization also extends love to the community any chance that it gets. SWANS actively gives out food to those in need in collaboration with the Montgomery Area Food Bank. The organization also hosts back to school uniform and school supply drives.
Despite the success of SWANS and it’s outreach to women all over the city, Johnson sometimes finds herself exhausted. However, her dedication to God, her family and the service that she does for those around her motivates her to keep pushing forward.
Johnson says, “I do find myself getting so overwhelmed to the point where I get discouraged. But I know that I must keep in my forefront that I am on an assignment. I know that God has ordered my steps and I know that at the end of the day, he is going to get the victory.”
Johnson has high hopes for the future of SWANS. She envisions a potential future where SWANS can touch women from all over the world.
“My vision for SWANS is for it to not just be local, but for it to be international. I want to have women involved and interested in becoming mentors. I want it to be overfilled with women wanting to help these girls. Transportation is such a barrier here in Montgomery for a lot of people. I would like to have our own means of transportation, our own van to drive and pick up our girls,” says Johnson. “I would also like to have the financial resources where we wouldn’t have to worry about the extent of the services that we can offer.”
Interested in becoming a mentor or learning more about SWANS? Visit their Facebook page Swans- Montgomery1 | Facebook and their website at Home | Swans (sisterswithanewstandard.com)
Purchase Married to Fear, A Testimony of Abuse and Redemption via Amazon, Walmart, and eBay!
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