Meet Johanny

About Johanny

Johanny was born in New York City on August 31, 1973 and is the daughter of Ana & Luis Cepeda. She lived and attended school in the Dominican Republic from the age of 9 to 14. Johanny is a proud mother to two children: Enith, 18, and Elias, 16, and is married to Felix Freytiz III. Johanny graduated from Mother Cabrini High School in New York City then attended the State University of New York at New Paltz College where she majored in French, minored in Spanish, studied abroad in Paris, France in 1994 and earned a bachelor’s degree of Arts. She also obtained a Master of Science in Education degree from Long Island University and became a bilingual guidance counselor. For over ten years, she worked for Grand Street Settlement and held the position of Program Director for the Beacon Center, a school-based community center located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. In addition to her role as program director, she worked part time as the college counselor for Marta Valle secondary school where the community center is housed.

In 2007, a business opportunity presented itself in Reading, PA. Johanny chose to leave New York City and her promising career to become an entrepreneur/businesswoman. She relocated her family to Pennsylvania to establish Mi Casa Su Casa Café, located at 320 Penn Street in downtown Reading. She graduated from Kutztown University Small Business Development Center and Latino Business Resource Center business program in the spring of 2009.

In November 2009, Johanny was the recipient of the James Hyson Entrepreneur Award from Community First Fund.

In January 2011, she was awarded the Business Person of the Year by the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce.

On March 30 2017, she was the recipient of the Take the Lead 2017 Award by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.

In 2020, Johanny received the COVID-19 Hero Award from United Community Services and in 2021, she was awarded Purple Ribbon Business Partner of the Year by the Domestic Shelters Organization. Johanny has served on the Safe Berks (formerly known as Berks Women in Crisis) and on the Reading Public Library Board.

In October 2016, Johanny and her husband Felix expanded Mi Casa Su Casa to offer once a week authentic Latino dinner buffet services at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Wyomissing.

In April of 2018, Johanny, along with her husband Felix, worked to expand Mi Casa Su Casa to the Shillington Farmers market.

Johanny was appointed to City Council representing District 6 in the city of Reading in January 2019. Then in November 2019, she was elected City Councilwoman of District 6, Reading PA, by the people and January 2020 began serving her four-year term and in June 2022, she was unanimously appointed to President of Reading City Council.

Johanny has always seen great potential for the City of Reading, PA and as a result, has been an active member of the community by engaging herself and her business in all activities, events that promote our diverse culture, history, and art of the city of Reading. Her motto is Querer Es Poder (when there is a will there’s a way) and everything you do, do with LOVE!

About Johanny

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