Changemakers

Ephie Ballard-Johnson was born in Memphis, TN. After graduating from Treadwell High School, she attended the University of Memphis where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in technical writing. She then worked as an educator in the Memphis City School System for a number of years before serving as the Administrative Director of Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc., a nonprofit Christian organization that employs over 60 staff members and provides many programs and assistance for 50,000 neighbors in need annually. After ten years as Administrative Director, she seceded her mother and NCC founding director, JoeAnn Ballard, as President/CEO of theNeighborhood Christian Centers (NCC) in 2008. Since that time, Mrs. Johnson has spearheaded the creation of the Early Childhood Brain Development program- Operation Smart Child- in partnership with The Urban Childhood Institute, organized the First Ladies for Healthy Babies Network with the support of Tennessee First Lady Crissy Has