SAVANNAH, Ga. () — “I’m hopeful that I’m able to plant a seed of hope, plant a seed of joy every time I have an interaction with someone,” Dr. Alicia Johnson, who has a doctorate in business administration, said about her personal mission statement.

“The core is that I’ve made someone better. That I’ve made whatever organization that I touched that day or any person that I came into contact with that they are made better,” she said.

For almost 30 years, Johnson has built a long resume of making lives better, through her professional career of lifting others up out of poverty and from inequity, her leadership in the community and through her church, Kingdom Life Christian Fellowship Church.

“The first thing that comes to my mind is servant leadership. Dr. Johnson certainly understands what it means to lead and serve. I would describe her as being very thoughtful, passionate, kind and has a very deep concern for her community,” Pastor Charles Roberson said.

In addition to volunteering at her church for the many food drives and holiday give aways, she leads a program that has already helped almost 90 families buy their first home.

Among her many accomplishments in the community, she’s the first African American and native Savannahian to be the Executive Director of Step Up Savannah. She’s chaired the Mayor of Savannah’s Racial Equity and Leadership Task Force and is a lifetime facilitator for Bridges out of Poverty.

Although she’s achieved a lot in her career, there’s another title that Johnson cherishes, being called Dr. Fancy by her family, especially her grandson.

“They say I’m fancy,” she said. “I like all the fancy things. So, after achieving my milestone of getting my doctoral degree, my husband got me a vanity plate. The name has stuck and everyone calls me that.”