2013 Featured Guest
Jeff Johnson is an award-winning journalist, social activist, commentator and author. From his celebrated conversations with marquee world figures in the political, business and entertainment arenas to his grass-roots trench work to inspire the next generation of leaders, Jeff Johnson continues to be a trailblazing social entrepreneur and authentic voice for change.
Currently, Jeff is a MSNBC contributor and the Chief White House Correspondent for TheGrio.com. He is also the weekly commentator on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show tackling issues across the realms of politics, entertainment and social policy. Johnson also currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of the Jeff Johnson Institute for Urban Development, a solutions-based institution currently leading a five-year project to recruit and develop 80,000 Black male teachers.
Formerly, Jeff spent seven years providing commentary and news content for Black Entertainment Television [BET], earning a reputation as the “voice of conscience” of the networks for his positive, affirming influence on youth and young adults. He has spent the last decade merging the worlds of politics and popular culture, including his work as Senior Advisor for Media and Youth Outreach for People for the American Way, National Director of the Youth & College Division of the NAACP, and as the Vice-President of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network [HSAN].
Johnson won the 2008 Salute to Excellence Award presented by the National Association of Black Journalists for BET’s “Life & Death in Darfur: Jeff Johnson Reports” series. It is a source of information that is regularly quoted in Newsweek, Upscale, Ebony and The Boston Globe. He regularly contributes commentary and analysis about issues related to race, politics, popular culture, and socio-economics for multiple news broadcast outlets and publications.
Johnson serves on the board of directors of the National Urban Fellows, Historically Black Colleges & Universities [HBCU] Hall of Fame Foundation, and the historic Lincoln Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. He consistently challenges communities to devise and employ innovative solutions to resolve historic and systemic social imbalances and inequalities. He resides in Baltimore, MD and is the proud father of Madison, Myles, and Malcolm.
Jeff Johnson: How Embracing Diversity Transforms Communities
____________________________________________