The Founder

Who Am I?

Hey y’all, my name is Parshe Johnson. I have been married for 20 years and have two beautiful young adult daughters. I am also a sister, friend, and a community connector to many. 

I was born and raised in the South Phoenix/Laveen area, a community rich in culture, resilience, and untapped potential. Like many youth growing up in underserved neighborhoods, I saw firsthand how limited access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities can impact a young person's future. But I also witnessed the strength, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit that exists within our community too.

As a child, I loved to write stories, so when I graduated from South Mountain High School, I attended Arizona State University on a scholarship as a Journalism major. I never had any mentors who were published authors or professional writers. I just went for it and later discovered it wasn’t for me.

So, for more than 25 years, I built my professional career as an Administrator at Costco Wholesale, where I developed a passion for leadership, operations, customer service, and helping people grow. While I loved my career, I always knew there was another dream in my heart—one that would allow me to create something of my own and make a lasting impact on the community that helped shape me.

My Entrepreneurship Journey

That dream became Sugar Star Sweet Treats.

Fun Fact: Sugar Star was the nickname my Father gave me when I was just a baby. I always admired the way my Grandmothers showed love to their family through cooking and baking. Baking came so naturally for me and became the way I could express my love in the community.

What started as a hobby baking desserts for family and friends eventually grew into an award-winning business with federal trademarks, wholesale partnerships, corporate catering opportunities, and a fresh-baked cookie vending machine concept. Through the journey of building Sugar Star Sweet Treats, I learned that entrepreneurship is about much more than making money. It is about creating community, opportunities, building confidence, solving problems, and leaving a legacy.

My passion for entrepreneurship was inspired long before I ever started a business.

Those Who Came Before Me

Some of my earliest lessons came from my grandparents, who taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and serving others. They believed in making the most of what you have, helping your neighbors, and creating opportunities for the next generation. Their love, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to family and community planted seeds that continue to guide me today.

My Grandma Lou loved the Lord more than anyone I have ever known. Every time she answered the phone, she would say, "Praise the Lord, God is a good God, hello." She spent decades living in the Matthew Henson housing community, becoming such a beloved fixture that when the neighborhood was torn down, she was featured in a newspaper story as the longest-standing resident.

But what made Grandma Lou special wasn't how long she lived there—it was how she lived there.

She was the kind of person who never let anyone go hungry. Food boxes were often distributed from her front yard to families in need. She kept a folding chair on her porch where unhoused neighbors could sit while she handed them a hot meal served on a pie tin. They would eat right there on the porch, surrounded by her beautiful rose bushes, and return the tin when they were finished. She didn't have much, but she always found a way to share what she had.

My Grandma Campbell carried that same spirit. She often said, "There's always room for one more at my kitchen table." Her home was a place of warmth, acceptance, and belonging. No one was turned away, and everyone was treated like family.

My Grandpa Tip embodied entrepreneurship before I even knew what the word meant. He built his family home in South Phoenix near 28th Street and Broadway with his own hands. He bartered skills and resources with neighbors, trading for plumbing, carpentry, and other work needed to complete the house. He showed me that building something meaningful requires vision, resourcefulness, and a community willing to work together.

Why I started this Nonprofit

On March 1st, 2026, my life was changed forever. My cousin, whom we affectionately nicknamed Carlita, passed away unexpectedly. She was my best friend, sister, and someone whom I looked up to my entire life. Since then, I have been trying to navigate this new world without her here physically, and I feel different now. 

Before she passed, I was pushing full steam ahead in my baking business. Breaking into doors I had been trying to get into for years, and I was a month away from retiring from my career of 25 years. 

And now, my overall plans have shifted. My outlook on life has changed. What I feel is most important going forward is creating IMPACT, serving my community, and trying to make a difference in the lives of as many teens and young adults as I can, just like my Grandparents and Carlita did for me. 

Losing Carlita reminded me that tomorrow is never promised. It challenged me to stop waiting for the "perfect time" and start pouring into the people and places that matter most. I believe every young person deserves a village—a community of mentors, leaders, and neighbors who see their potential, speak life into them, and walk alongside them through life's challenges. Something Sweet for the SouthSide was created to be a part of that village. My prayer is that every teen and young adult we encounter leaves knowing they are seen, valued, and capable of creating a future greater than their circumstances. If we can change one life, we can change a family. If we change enough families, we can transform an entire community. That is the legacy I hope to leave in honor of my grandparents, Carlita, and every person who believed in me before I believed in myself.