About The Johnson-Shaw Foundation

“Empowering socioeconomically disadvantaged people transform their lives and positively impact their communities”

 

“We want to serve the men, women, and children that are affected by incarceration and the barriers during reentry to the community.”-Jeffrey and Shakira Johnson, The Johnson-Shaw Foundation

Our mission is to empower the socioeconomically disadvantaged people transform their lives and positively impact their communities after leaving incarceration.

IT’S WHAT WE DO!

We are based out of Charleroi, PA, but we serve Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette and Greene Counties.

501 McKean Ave.
Charleroi, PA 15022

Our Mission

“Empowering socioeconomically disadvantaged people transform their lives and positively impact their communities”

Our Vision

We want to serve the men, women, and children that are affected by incarceration and the barriers during reentry to the community.

Our Story

How We Got Started: The Story of Jeffrey Johnson

Jeffrey Johnson was born in July 1969. He was raised in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania. He was a multi-sport athlete and scholar throughout his childhood and graduated from Bentworth HS in 1987.

Jeffrey went on to continue his education and play football at Lafayette College. He transferred to Washington and Jefferson in 1990 to continue his education and to play football for the college as well. While in college he began to go down a path of using alcohol and drugs which led him to a dark and destructive pathway of addiction and incarceration. He spent 25 years in the throes of addiction and continuously in and out of Washington, Westmoreland, Allegheny County’s as well as the state prison system.

Jeffrey Johnson Today

During his last stint in prison, he went on a journey to change his ways and to utilize programs to help guide him to living a sober life. He completely changed his life around to reenter society with a structured discipline, plans, and goals.  

After reentering he was diligent and worked very hard to maintain his sobriety and utilized various programs to further his healing and education. He continued to work through any barriers and exceed any expectations as an ex-offender. He entered the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 5. He completed the apprenticeship program and graduated with an associate degree in Electrical Construction Technology and became a journeyman in 2021.
  

Jeffrey maintained a very constructive community existence. He became a mentor through a local non-profit for youth who were being affected by their parent’s incarceration. He knew he wanted to start his own foundation to help men, women, and children overcome the many barriers that they face with incarceration and reentry. 

Jeffrey married his wife, Shakira, in August of 2019. They took up residence in Washington County, Pennsylvania at that time. Jeffrey incorporated The Johnson-Shaw Foundation in 2022 to continue the plight to help people in our community that are affected by incarceration and reentrance. 

Board Members

Jeffrey Johnson, Executive Director

Shakira Johnson, Director of Outreach and Partnerships

Alliey Stanis

Shannon Hemmingson

Jennifer Johnson

Abigail Shaw

Joyce Sed

Jim Sed

Charlynne Dicks

 

Become a Volunteer Today

Becoming a volunteer for The Johnson-Shaw Foundation is easy. Just contact us by phone or email and we can assess how you would like to help with our initiatives at the time.

CONTACT US NOW

What’s Wrong With The Picture?

2M

ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED IN THE USA

 

67%

OF PEOPLE REENTERING END UP INCARCERATED AGAIN WITHIN 3 YEARS OF THEIR RELEASE

500% Increase

OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS IN THE PAST 40 YEARS

Did You Know?

The state of Pennsylvania’s incarceration rate per capita is higher than any democracy on this Earth. 2019 statistics per the Prison Policy Initiative state that there were nearly 18,000 (2300 being female) released from state and federal prisons in Pennsylvania. There are over 200,000 (34,000 being female) being released from county institutions in Pennsylvania. The numbers of reentrants far exceed any resources available in our communities to offer assistance and guidance through the many barriers.

$50

Get in Touch. Get Involved.

“Empowering socioeconomically disadvantaged people transform their lives and positively impact their communities”

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