Former NBA star point guard and the incumbent mayor of Sacramento, California, 42-year old Kevin Johnson, is one of those professional athletes who know what they want to do once they stepped out of the hardwood for good. Johnson has achieved so much as a basketball player and as a real estate businessman.

Education has a soft spot in Kevin Johnson’s heart. Shortly after his career in the NBA started, he already built the St. HOPE Development Company in 1989, in efforts of bringing vitality back into his community through civic leadership trainings, arts, and public education.

Johnson stated in an interview that the education system in the United States is currently in crisis, with a high school graduation rate of only 71%. To curb and prevent the deterioration of the quality of education in an urban setting due to crime, violence, and socioeconomic background, Johnson started his charter school organization in 2003, the St. Hope Public Schools.

Johnson aims to create the finest K-12 schools in an urban setting where all their students graduate and enroll in 4-year college and university programs without the need for remediation. St. Hope Public Schools’ philosophy on education has been embraced by the California Charter Schools Association due to its impact on the educational landscape. Kevin Johnson himself was named as a member of the association’s Board of Directors.

Johnson’s highly publicized successful and fruitful management of his charter schools has prompted unsatisfied parents from Harlem to have the NBA superstar take a look at the operations of their charter school in 2006. After the visit, St. HOPE and the New York City Department of Education entered into a historic partnership in efforts to improve the Choir Academy of Harlem.

Aside from education, Johnson involves himself in other philanthropic works and provides funding to other worthwhile nonprofit organizations. Because of his contributions to the society, Johnson has received numerous awards and citations, which includes the 411th Point of Light from former President George H.W. Bush.