By Attiyya Atkins
It doesn’t how many years you’re on this earth, what matters is the impact that you make.
No one is a better example of that than Aaron Avant Johnson of Miami, the 22-year-old has been changing the game since he was 9 years old. And because of that Johnson, a writer, producer, and filmmaker, will be honored with the president’s Lifetime Achievement Award on July 15 at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida.
The award is reserved for individuals who have contributed more than 4,000 hours of community service and have exhibited outstanding character, work ethic, and dedication to their communities.
Johnson began film editing at nine years old, and quickly realized that was his passion.
“You don’t have to wait to live the life of your dreams,” he said. “You can do it now.”
With the support of his parents, Johnson started a production company. At age 12 he wrote his first book, “You Are Never To Young.” By 13, he won an award for his first film, “Lost,” which was a story about losing family in a car accident. At age 14, he wrote his second book, “Winning Mind Battles.” At age 15, he was invited to be a keynote speaker at the Diversity Conference in Vermont after former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders couldn’t make it. At 16, the mayor of Miami named March 9, 2018 as Aaron Avant Johnson Day.
To date Johnson has produced over 20 movies, with a few appearing on Tubi TV. He has also been honored by leading industry professionals like Ava Duvernay, Marvin Sapp, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and T.D. Jakes. He has also won awards from NBC, McDonald’s Corporation, ABC, Essence, the State of Florida, 40 Under 40, and BET.
And he was the first ever Black youth to be awarded at the London Film Festival.
Johnson loves helping people achieve their goals through free acting classes and has helped thousands of people worldwide. What’s next for Johnson? His own TV show. “I would love to do a TV show. I consume more TV than movies and would really like to have my own show on a major network.”
The presidential award ceremony will be hosted by Dr. Dee Thompson, speaker and author of “Purpose Never Dies.”
Other honorees include Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of TLC, Danielle Knox (Orlando news anchor), Jawan Strader (NBC 6 Anchor), Stichiz radio personality, Broward County School board member Dr. Rosalind Osgood, Broward County Commissioner Hazelle P. Rogers, Dr. Rudy Moise, Tracy Wilson Mourning (founder of Honey Shine inc.), Apostle Edward Brinson of Redeeming Word Christian Center, Dr. Dorothy Bendross Mindingall of the Miami-Dade County School Board, Dr. Sandra Justice (former Ms. Haiti Florida), Apostle Billy Thompson (Jesus People Proclaim, Deerfield Beach, FL), Tylisha M. McKinney (CEO of TyeLiveEntertainment), Jessica Williams of SouthPromo.com, Tangela Sears of Florida Parents of Murdered Children, and more.
