Before her current role, Johnson worked for Argonne National Laboratory as their Data Coordinator (1982-1986), managing the Region 5 data information system for the State Local Conservation Program. In 1985, she embarked on her career with People for Community Recovery, a community-led organization founded by her mother, Hazel Johnson, who works to enhance the lives of those impacted by environmental pollution through community engagement. Johnson started with PCR as an Administrative Assistant before being promoted to Project Manager and later to her current role as Executive Director. In addition to her role at PCR, she serves on the Illinois Environmental Justice Commission, which she has been involved in since 2013. She has encountered challenges throughout her career, but she reminds herself that "everything we do is driven by trying to find solutions" (Messer, n.d.).