Meet January Superhero Flora Tapia-Johnson! – National Children’s Advocacy Center Skip to content

The Superhero nomination form for Flora Tapia-Johnson ends with a simple line, “Flora is a real Hero.” After learning more about Flora, that almost feels like an understatement!

Flora is from Panama, but she and her husband, a retired Air Force officer, have called Huntsville home for more than 20 years. And in that short time, Flora has made a lasting impression on this community.

Flora is a founding member and president of the Alabama chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. She works daily to make sure the Spanish-speaking families in our community have access to services and support. The friend who nominated Flora said, “She works with churches and individuals to make sure that families, especially the children, have food on the table, can pay rent, and are seen by a doctor wh  en needed.” Flora mentors new and expectant mothers and provides translation services for moms and doctors during pregnancy well visits. She serves as a doula during labor – providing emotional, informational, and physical support to the mother and entire family.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Flora knew families would be at even greater risk and would need more help meeting basic needs. So she hit the ground running, operated a food bank and checked in with at-risk families even more frequently. Next, Flora organized COVID testing events, working hard to slow the spread of this illness. Then, when the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine was ready, she set up shot clinics – counseling families who may be unsure or hesitant about receiving the vaccine.

As if that isn’t enough, Flora is also a dedicated volunteer for the American Red Cross. After the September 11, 2001, attacks on our country, she worked countless blood drives. Flora also has been the helping hand countless have needed in the wake of hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires. The Red Cross awarded Flora the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort Volunteer Citation after the storm devastated the gulf coast.

Flora has passed her love and commitment for others to two new generations. She and her husband raised four incredible children and are now grandparents to three grandchildren! How do you measure the impact of someone who has made it their life’s mission to help the children and families in our community? How do you say thank you on behalf of the countless lives she’s made better? How do you begin to acknowledge the number of success stories due to the hard work and dedication of Flora Tapia-Johnson?

We start by calling her what she is, a Superhero among us.

 

Our January Superhero is presented by Morris King & Hodge.

Do you know a hero in our community? Nominate them today!