Johnnie Walker faced her own obstacles and is now dedicated to improving the lives of African American women.

Walker, 80, started the LI Cross County section of the National Council of Negro Women in 1994. The mission of the organization is to advocate for women of African descent and empower them to lead their families and communities.

Walker says after she was a victim of housing discrimination in Nassau County as a young mother, she realized she wanted to work to change that for herself and others— changes that she says are still needed.

"I still say there should be…monthly, quarterly seminars on how government works. You've got to know…these are the little baby steps that not only our people, because I'm National Council of Negro Women, but people in general, just don't know— who governs you and how it works,” she says.

Walker was born and raised in Florida but moved to Great Neck in 1959.