Convenings, Gatherings & Forums that Connect Black Leaders. Our events encourage everyone in the community to share a role in improving the lives of African Americans. Our COVID-19/Black MN virtual town hall, Black Life Amplified, is keeping the African American community informed about the impacts of the public health crisis. We’re also reshaping the narrative specific to African American lives, Black leadership, and the Black experience with our weekly podcast: Black Leadership Re-Defined.

Black Centered Design: A Black Oriented Approach to Improving Our Community: Our Black Centered Design approach consists of collaborative initiatives to tackle our community’s most pressing challenges of  Public Safety, Housing, Education, Employment, Infrastructure and Healthcare. History dictates that we must act differently. Solutions must be centered and aligned with people who are living the reality of inequity. As positive change results in single communities, our model will radiate change outward to neighboring and connected communities, setting the stage for lasting and  impactful change.  

The Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy: The Leadership Academy is a continuous hands-on path to personal and professional discovery directed by facilitators, mentors, developmental tools, and experiential learning opportunities. Each fellow builds a pathway for defining their purpose in the Academy. Thus the skills developed through this program serve as a launching pad for exercising leadership in Collective Impact projects. The overall goal of the Academy is to accelerate the leadership development journey of emerging African American leaders.