In 2009, Mimi Pierre-Johnson founded the Elmont Culture Center. A non-profit organization that serves the community by prioritizing education and culture, building a safe space, and fighting against any injustices brought to community members.
“When I talk about the Elmont Culture Center, that word culture means a lot, but they see it as a community center, like an after-school program, but a true culture center must bring people together.”
Her idea was derived from school-aged children needing a place to stay after school hours, and the organization only expanded from there. Pierre-Johnson saw how much the community struggled with basic necessities so it really pushed her to build what the Elmont Culture Center is today.
Lorraine Attias was a school teacher for 35 years in New York City and currently serves as a member of the Belmont-Merrick Democratic Immigration Committee.
“Mimi doesn’t really want to be political,” Attias said. “She really wants to be an activist for her people,” she added. Attias believes this is how you should really be, doing it from your heart, rather than doing it for political gain. She accepts help from anyone who wants her, no matter their political stance or background, painting her a true leader.
Lorraine first met Pierre-Johnson shortly after she joined the democratic club in 2023 during a “Hate Has No Home Here” event, a movement started in Chicago back in 2016 to support those who are targeted because of their race. “We tried to bring together people of different faiths and backgrounds,” Attias added.
Pierre-Johnson stands in solidarity with her community, although she mentioned she has not seen the resources and funding in Elmont like she used to. “But the community became more diverse, “ she mentioned. So, the Elmont community once saw more resources, but once the community became more diverse, all of that had dissolved. “So now you have a shift that you almost have to start over again, “ she adds.
The work of the Elmont Culture Center started to transform into something the community started to appreciate. “And now I can see a little bit that we do have people who want to do things, and I think once they realize all of the things that we have done in the community, that is where they are like, we want to be a part of it.”
