1944-2013
Sister Carol was born and raised in Newark and attended St. Vincent’s Academy, becoming a Sister of Charity in 1962. She was Director of the Women and Family Program at St. Columba Neighbor Club, Newark. She was project and planning Director for Ironbound Community Corporation.
A boulder honoring Sister Carol in Riverfront Park says, “She loved Newark, fought for justice and helped us return to our river”.
Sister Carol fought to remove toxins in the Passaic River as part of a community advisory group she started while working with ICC.
In 2008 she was honored by the EPA with the “Citizen Excellence in Community Involvement Award”. She was so persistent,” says Ana Baptista, director of ICC’s environmental planning and programs. “Carol helped me to see the beauty of this waterway.” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said Johnston never accepted “no” for an answer and worked “tirelessly” to reconnect the Ironbound community to the river.
Sister Carol also spent many years working with communities in Mexico City with women’s cooperatives.
Bibliography
Carter, Barry “Two Newark Communities Are Better Because of These Women” NJ.com Sept 29, 2015
Newark Library Collections 1 , 2
Chambers, Steve, “Nuns reflect…” Star Ledger Aug 8, 1997