And now he is an advocate for change.
In July, he cohosted the 13th annual Rooted in Community national youth summit in Philadelphia, a convention that drew 150 young people from across the country to write the first Youth Food Bill of Rights.
The document, still a work in progress, states that young people want nutrition education in and outside of school and easier access to produce grown within 100 miles of the city.
It seeks an end to the mistreatment of workers, farmers, animals, and the environment; a ban on high-fructose corn syrup and on the use of pesticides, chemical additives, and genetically modified organisms; support for small, local farms that grow organically; and a restructuring of the currently complicated process of obtaining organic certification.
Johnson held his own when speaking about the bill before a roomful of seasoned adult food activists on Food Day, Oct. 24. And he hopes to join other West Philadelphia students to lobby congressional leaders so the principles in the Youth Food Bill of Rights can be incorporated into the 2012 federal Farm Bill.
"When I was younger, mostly we didn't have money, so we bought cheap food. If you have a low income you've got to go with the best price."
"My grandfather used to help us out a lot. He was the kind of grandfather that you'd be scared of, but at the same time you could count on him. My mother would call him and he'd show up with food, no questions asked."
His grandfather, who had diabetes and high blood pressure, died recently of a heart attack, and Johnson feels the loss acutely.
