In the heart of a community long overlooked, Dina Johnson is leading a transformation that is not just structural, but also deeply personal. As the new executive director for the Jewel J. Newman Community Center in North Baton Rouge, she is cleaning up a neglected facility and reviving a legacy.
When Johnson stepped into her new role in January, the center was pure chaos, she said. There were boxes piled in showers, a rat infestation and a terrible sense of abandonment.
With encouragement and financial support from the administration of Mayor-President Sid Edwards, Johnson and her staff immediately began to pick up the slack around the center. These early efforts laid the groundwork for restoring the center back to a renewed sense of pride and purpose, she said.
Interns Kenmyria Carr, left, and Latoya Harvey walk out with bags food to hand to a waiting family at Jewel J. Newman Community Center during a supplies give-a-way for pregnant women and mothers of young children on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Javier Gallegos
“It was heartbreaking, but it was also a call to action,” Johnson said, who has a doctorate in public policy with concentrations in health care management, finance and environmental science.
Her heartbreak quickly turned into determination.
Each task, no matter how small, was a quiet act of restoration for the building and the trust that had been lost over time. The center began to feel less like a forgotten space and more like a promise being kept. Johnson is not just renovating a building, she is reigniting a spirit through infrastructure, programs and personal connection.
Her first major initiative, a Martin Luther King Jr. Day cleanup, put into perspective how much work there was to be done. Many community members contributed time out of their day to help pick up litter around the parking lot, wipe down surfaces and help clear walkways for hazards.
Dr. Dina Johnson hands a box of food to a family at Jewel J. Newman Community Center during a supplies give-a-way for pregnant women and mothers of young children on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Javier Gallegos
Where people come for hope
Johnson said her leadership approach is rooted in connection. A lifelong resident of Scotlandville, she understands the strength of community.
“This center is the most needed resource in our community,” she says. “It’s where people come not just for help, but for hope.”
Johnson attended the center as a child and later found herself working there through the Job Training Program Administration. She recalled how beautiful and magical the center used to feel back then, and she's determined to bring back that “top notch” standard.
Under the new administration, the center secured funding for critical infrastructure upgrades, including a new roof, improved parking and hopefully a long overdue air conditioning unit.
Assistant director Kirsten Wright grabs a container of baby formula at Jewel J. Newman Community Center during a supplies give-a-way for pregnant women and mothers of young children on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Javier Gallegos
Beyond upgrading new spaces, such as the play area outside in front of the center, Johnson and her staff also reinstated programs that are vital, like the food pantry, and is actively seeking a new tenant for a spacious, well-equipped clinic that is vacant.
The clinic is set up to accommodate a medical professional, such as a family medicine practitioner, nurse practitioner, mental health professional, etc., and Johnson hopes to attract someone who can provide much-needed medical services to the community.
Pouring into her community
This community center team has been hands-on since day one, Johnson said. They work well together and share a deep understanding of the community’s needs.
But Johnson’s aspirations stretch further than the center. She dreams of bringing back a grocery store and sparking economic development in the area. Though she once considered running for state representative, her heart remains within her community.
Dr. Dina Johnson gives a tour of a community garden under construction at Jewel J. Newman Community Center on Friday, November 7, 2025.
Javier Gallegos
“This is where I can make the biggest impact,” she says.
She said she understands that revitalization does not happen alone; it takes a village. She hopes to build bridges with neighboring communities, such as Zachary and Baker, to encourage shared events and mutual support. By strengthening these connections, she envisions a more unified region where resources are shared, voices are amplified and no neighborhood is left behind.
Her team uses every opportunity, from food distributions to youth programs, to raise awareness about the center’s offerings and to invite residents to take part in shaping the center’s future. Success, Johnson said, lies in engagement, visibility and shared responsibility.
”We want to build a network of care,” she said.