Alice Marie Johnson - An American Encore
Imagine making one desperate mistake that can define your entire life. Alice Marie Johnson doesn’t have to dream of this possibility, because she lived the reality, serving two decades in prison for a non-violent, first-time drug offense.
Alice didn’t have an easy upbringing. She was born into a large family of sharecroppers and became pregnant in high school. Despite these challenges, however, Alice was determined to succeed. She worked as a FedEx manager and became a wife and mother. Then, life threw Alice some nasty curveballs.
In the early 90s, Alice endured her youngest son’s tragic death, lost her job, and became a single parent. Desperate to feed her family, she found extra dollars in the drug trade to make ends meet. Alice never sold drugs but couriered information and money between parties. Because of this one mistake, Alice was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison.
Alice has always acknowledged her wrongdoing, but she also knows her sentence far outweighed her crime. For many, this situation would have produced a life of bitterness and anger – but not for Alice. Instead, she worked tirelessly in prison to help those around her, caring for and mentoring inmates, organizing the first-ever Special Olympics for incarcerated people, and inspiring hope in her dark and lonely world.
After 21 years in prison, Alice Johnson received one of the most significant gifts of her life, when her sentence was commuted by President Donald J. Trump in 2018. She used this miracle to fight for others’ freedom, uniting Americans of all ethnicities, political persuasions, heritages, and religious backgrounds. Alice’s laser-focused mission operates on the belief that all Americans have value and voices deserving to be heard no matter who we are or what we have done.
Recently, Alice advocated for the successful passage of the First Step Act, which incentivizes participation in recidivism reduction programming or productive activities. From start to present, Alice has proven she embodies the power of second chances, bringing a steady stream of light to those around her as a force for good. Alice Marie Johnson is an American Encore!
