Villareal D. Johnson, II is a Native Washingtonian from the Hillsdale neighborhood of Ward 8. A graduate of DCPS, Johnson holds a BS degree in Sociology and Psychology with a minor in Education at Savannah State University, and a Masters degree in Organizational Development from Nyack College.

In 2006, Villareal Johnson was appointed as ANC Commissioner under the leadership of Angela Thompson Murphy when Dolly Davis stepped down. Johnson’s goal through his work with the commission was to inspire a larger and broader group of community residents to become more active contributors to the development and improvement of their neighborhoods.

In 2011, Johnson, became chair of ANC07A. As chair, Johnson has presided over the development a new set of reforms that include a $20,000 community grants program, the development of a new, interactive website that manages and monitors constituent services requests, collects data on community residents, the designing and implementation of an outreach and engagement plan that will utilize commission resource to do direct mailings, robo-calls, press releases, advertisements in local newspapers, community programs, initiatives and committees for resident participation.

Also known around the community as “VJ,” Johnson has served on the boards of several community organizations including the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization, the Washington East Foundation, the Ward 7 Nonprofit Network, Lorraine Whitlock Scholarship Dinner, DC NAACP Education Committee and the Young Trade Unionist. Johnson was also the Executive Director for the DC Young Democrats.

Johnson currently works as a Benefits Representative at an insurance brokerage firm and he is pursuing a degree in Labor Studies at the George Meaning National Labor College. An avid traveler, reader, and adventurous athlete who loves swimming, cycling, running, playing Flag Football and Kickball, VJ lives in the Twining neighborhood and is affiliated with a number of local and national organizations that focus on education, non-profit development, youth development and social justice advocacy.