BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Life has a way of showing you your calling, through those closest to you. Gabrielle Johnson knows this all too well.

Johnson always wanted to help people but wasn’t sure where to begin, until a friend’s diagnosis.

“When I was about, early 20’s. I had a close friend of mine she came to me, and she told me that she had been infected by HIV,” Johnson explained. “It kind of made me want to step out and do something, and so I’m like hey, well maybe, you know, maybe this is what I was called to do.”

To help her friend and others, Johnson created an agency called the Face to Face Enrichment Center . At first, it focused on HIV testing and counseling, until Johnson saw a greater need. Her organization now offers role models, programs and activities for youth.

“And now we have four locations, so we have Baton Rouge, Hammond, Metairie and Houston. So, I’m definitely proud about that. We recently celebrated 17 years of service, which I’m also proud about that as well,” Johnson said.

The mentors range from doctors to college students, who offer more than just a listening ear.

“A lot of times they just need to know that somebody cares,” Johnson said.

There’s one more young person Johnson is passionate about, her daughter, who has Type 1 diabetes. Johnson wrote a children’s book about her daughter’s illness and started a foundation.

Johnson continues to impact young lives in Baton Rouge and hopes her nonprofit will keep growing and expanding.

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“I always said if I can reach one person, at least one person, then my job is done, but I’ve been able to reach hundreds. So, I am blessed, I am so blessed,” said Johnson.

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