“The most rewarding part of the work I do at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is being able to invest in, engage with and work alongside our dedicated community members aiming to provide solutions that are driven and informed by the communities it’s our duty to serve.”

As a Program Officer and part of the Community Impact team, Cheniqua Johnson proudly supports the work of nonprofit organizations throughout the metro and in Greater Minnesota. Cheniqua is responsible for reviewing grantmaking in health, domestic violence prevention, and civic engagement.

Cheniqua joined the Foundation in November 2020. She brings seven years of prior experience in community engagement, political organizing, and local, state and federal government. Cheniqua received her bachelor’s in family social science from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities as a first-generation, TRIO, college graduate.

Born and raised in Worthington, Minnesota, Cheniqua takes pride in her rural Minnesota roots, and now brings them with her to her new community on the East Side of Saint Paul. She currently serves on the City of Saint Paul's Cultural STAR Board, City of Saint Paul Police Chief Examining Committee, and on the East Side Funders Group.

Outside of work, Cheniqua can be found socializing, organizing or tapping into anything musical. She’s a huge fan of live music and bands as she has played the alto saxophone since she was 10 years old. She is also one of the co-founders of In Sisterhood, We Brunch, a quarterly brunch series that brings together BIPOC women and professionals across the Twin Cities. Community continues to be at the center of everything she does.