Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) is deeply troubled with
the Federal Government’s efforts to draw Ms. Dawn Chavous who is a successful
businesswoman into a trial as a conduit to prosecute her husband, Councilman Kenyatta
Johnson. With a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Organizational
Development and Leadership Management and professional experience in education and
charter schools, Ms. Chavous has the relevant academic training and credentials to be an
effective consultant to clients such as Universal Companies that are in the education space. It is
noteworthy that Ms. Chavous had established her career long before she married Councilman
Johnson. That there is an overlap of her client base with relationships that her husband has, a
Philadelphia Councilmember, is the reality of business in Philadelphia where there still is a
dearth of viable established Black women led businesses.

It is critical to underscore, she is an educated & successful BLACK businesswoman, who has
honed her craft as a consultant in a country that demonizes Black women, that suspect any
gains Black women make since the system historically has not allowed Black women to
succeed.

It is deeply sexist and racist to infer that she cannot charge fees similar to her white male
counterparts for the consulting services she delivered. The FBI accused Ms. Chavous of taking
money from Universal Companies for consultant services including planning events in exchange
for Johnson’s support for their zoning requests. It is questionable whether the FBI Agent who
was the primary witness for the prosecution had the credentials or experience to determine the
worth of a consultant. That agent, unlike Ms. Chavous, did not have a degree in organizational
dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania nor did he have extensive experience in the
consulting arena with a specialization in the charter school arena. Ms. Chavous properly
invoiced her client and was duly reimbursed for her work. Most importantly there was not a
single email text, memo, taped call, or witness detailing the bribery the government alleges
occurred.

On April 19, 2022, the judge declared mistrial in Kenyatta Johnson and Dawn Chavous’ federal
bribery case. This came after the jury was unable to reach a verdict; after investigating
Councilmember Johnson and Ms. Chavous for six years and conducting more than 150
interviews, bringing three dozen people before the grand jury, and collecting and analyzing more
than two million documents.

Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars, it is time for the FBI to close this case and move on to
issues that are plaguing Philadelphia such as rampant gun violence.

Written by Nina Ahmad, Ph.D.
Philadelphia Branch NAACP Health Committee Chair