FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — JULY 2—The African American Leadership Forum (The Forum) proudly announces its 2025 cohort of the Dr. Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy—a transformative fellowship that nurtures visionary, Black-led leadership rooted in community, legacy, and radical imagination.
Inspired by the fearless legacy of civil rights pioneer Dr. Josie R. Johnson—whose lifelong work in housing, education, and voter equity fuels our purpose—JRJLA is a sanctuary where leaders pause, heal, and nourish their spirits so their communities may thrive.
“I believe in holding space where Black leaders are invited not only to show up but to show who they are. This cohort carries unique brilliance and collective depth. Through mentorship, ritual, reflection, and fellowship, these leaders will reclaim much-deserved joy, expand capacities, and imagine richly liberated futures,” said Jaralyn Roberts, Director of Leadership Development at The Forum.
Announcing the 2025 Cohort
Jeffrey Bissoy • Alexis Varner • Haley Taylor Schlitz • Jerome Richardson • Dominique Murray • Nelle Rivers • Marcus Fard • Leo Howard III • Nadia Sabah • Tamuriel L. Grace • Leonard Searcy • Dr. L’Aurelle Johnson • Dr. Amber Alton • Dr. Danté Williams • Dr. Altreisha FosterBentho • Devyn White • Bianca Jones • Fancy LanierDuncan • Gwen KingLunde • Mer’Ce Tyler • Shanene Herbert • Angela Reed • Paster Brittany Radford • Carmen Lewis • Harlan Austin
This new class of fellows represents the vast spectrum of Black leadership across Minnesota and beyond—artists, educators, public health experts, tech innovators, and movement builders committed to crafting systems that work for all of us.
Leadership Rooted in Legacy
Over six months, fellows will engage in a deeply immersive journey that:
- Develops a personalized Black-centered self-care and sustainability plan;
- Fosters holistic leadership through self-discovery and cultural grounding;
- Connects them to Torchbearers—seasoned Black changemakers and executive coaches;
- Builds life-affirming community among over 150 alumni leaders.
JRJLA is beyond standard professional development—it’s a spiritual reclamation, a political stance, and a cultural investment in our collective future. The Forum’s mission is clear: to activate the power of the Black community to imagine, design, and implement an agenda for change. JRJLA is a living embodiment of that work—an ecosystem where healing meets strategy, where community builds capacity, and where Black leaders rise not alone, but together.