BOSS

If you've been to a Great Raleigh Cleanup event in the last two years, you've probably met Johnny, better known to me as Boss.

We first met Johnny in 2024, shortly after launching our Workforce program. At the time, he was volunteering at A Place at the Table and looking for an opportunity. We brought him in, and it didn't take long for him to separate himself from the pack. He showed up early, worked hard, and never shied away from the toughest jobs.

Within a few months, the crew had given him a nickname: Boss Johnny. He tried to shake the title at first, but there was no escaping it. The crew naturally looked to him for direction, and he quietly became the leader I trusted. I still remember the day one of the crew members walked right past me to ask Johnny what to do next. It was a confusing moment for me... but I digress.

It didn't take long before I started handing over responsibilities.

"Johnny, can you clean out the trash traps?"

"Johnny, can you grab recycling from Pelagic?"

The answer was always the same.

"Got it."

Today, Boss is the unofficial Operations Lead for The Great Raleigh Cleanup. (But officially... we all know who's really in charge.)

He leads the vast majority of our Workforce cleanups, oversees several of our partnerships, supports volunteer events when I can't be there, and keeps job sites running smoothly. His leadership isn't loud or flashy. It's earned through consistency, humility, and a work ethic that never wavers.

Professionally, Johnny has taken an incredible weight off my shoulders. Because I know I can trust him, I'm able to spend more time in the community building partnerships, meeting with supporters, and finding new opportunities that keep our Workforce program growing.

What I didn't expect was the personal relationship we'd build along the way.

Johnny isn't just an employee anymore. He's family.

We've shared plenty of laughs, grabbed meals together, and had countless conversations about life. I made sure to be there for him when he lost his brother, and he's never afraid to remind me that I'm apparently a much better boss when I'm not single. (He'd probably laugh out loud if he read that.)

Johnny was the first person who made me realize that you don't need addiction or some drastic life event to become housing insecure. Sometimes rent just gets too damn high, and suddenly you're doing everything you can just to figure things out. That realization changed the way I think about the people we serve.

Today, Boss turned 66.

Last night, we surprised him with a steak dinner surrounded by many of the people he's worked alongside over the past two years. For two hours, he smiled, and we smiled. It was a truly special evening.

That's Boss.

He's dependable, genuine, and always willing to lend a hand. even when those old bones are telling him otherwise.

When we created the Workforce program, I thought we were building something that might change the lives of the people we hired.

Little did I know it would change mine, too.

Happy Birthday, Boss.

I'm incredibly grateful for you, not just for the work you do, but for the person you are.

(But also... thanks for doing all the stuff I don't want to do. 😂)

— Preston