User:Artimeza Ward/Toni Ann Johnson

Toni Ann Johnson is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and community activist. She won the Christopher Award and the Humanitas Prize in 1998 for her teleplay, “Ruby Bridges,” which aired on The Wonderful World of Disney. Johnson also appeared in the film in the role of Alma Broyard. She won a second Humanitas Prize in 2004, for her teleplay “Crown Heights.” Johnson was a screenwriter on the film “Step Up 2: The Streets," released in 2008.'''

In 1999 Johnson's stage play, "Gramercy Park is Closed to the Public" received a mainstage production by The New York Stage and Film Company at Vassar College. Johnson co-authored the stage play, "Here in My Father's House," which was produced by The Negro Ensemble Company in 1989.

In 2009 Johnson published an op-ed in The Los Angeles Times that mentioned her struggle to bring trees to South Los Angeles. Johnson waged a campaign to bring trees to the site of a Ralphs Grocery Store that had no green space. In January 2010, with the help of Million Trees LA, she succeeded in getting 20 Ginkgo Biloba trees planted on Manchester Blvd. in South LA. Johnson received a certificate of appreciation from the office of Councilman Bernard Parks and one from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.