Podcast appearances and mentions of Josie R Johnson

Civil rights icon Dr. Josie R. Johnson, author of "Hope in Struggle: A Memoir,"  reflects with host Dr. Sylvia Bartley about the civil rights era of today compared to the early civil rights movement.   As we live through COVID, racial reckoning, and natural disasters, Dr. Johnson shares her hopes and fears for our children and community.  Dr. Johnson questions if the civil rights leaders of her time failed our children today! A reflective, and yes, a deep, meaningful conversation that inspires Hope in the Struggle.

Dr. Sylvia Bartley sits down with Elizer Darris, a Josie R. Johnson fellow, organizer at the Minnesota ACLU, and consultant. They discuss his journey from a juvenile inmate to a community leader in the Twin Cities and the many lessons he learned along the way.

The idea behind Don't Complain, Activate is that you don't have to be President Obama or Beyonce to activate your community. You could be a mom, dad, teacher, artist, activist, lawyer, and the list goes on. Dr. Betty Shabazz once said "find the good and praise it." That is precisely what DCA seeks to do. Each episode, Leslie E. Redmond interviews a dynamic group activators. This episode features the first Attorney General Keith Ellison, Dr. Josie R. Johnson, Charlnitta "Mama Chi" Ellis.

Ujamaa Place invited the community to "Commemorate Black History & Culture Day" at the George Latimer Library in partnership with Saint Paul Public Library in celebration of its 10 years of service to its men and the community.    Celebrate Black History & Culture Exhibit 2020 Program *Program subject to change without notice. 12:00noon- 12:30 Welcome / Introduction 12:30am - 2:00pm Author's Loft + Music & Art Exhibition Local Black authors will be featured.  Authors will autograph all books purchased. "Hope in the Struggle" by Dr. Josie R. Johnson Publisher: University of Minnesota Press "Towards An African Education" by Professor Mahmoud El-Kati Publisher: In Black Ink "Diesel Heart" by Melvin Carter, Jr. Publisher: MN Historical Society Press Music & Art Exhibition: Ujamaa Place "Music Therapy" Take a "Music Therapy" class with Ujamaa Men facilitated by the "Behavior Health & Wellness" team Darnell Baker and Faith Lofton and Housing Coach, Keith Nance, who is a talented musician.  DJ Roosevelt Mansfield, Ujamaa youth coach, will be on the 1s and 2s. "Philando Castile Art in Healing" exhibit and discussion with Ujamaa men facilitated by Valerie Castile featuring artists who healed the community after the death of her son. Ujamaa Podcast: "A Black Man's Sketch" will be recorded LIVE. Click here (http://www.ujamaaplace.org/black-history--culture-2020-exhibit.html) to learn more.

On this episode, Lissa sits down with civil rights icon Dr. Josie R. Johnson and her co-authors Carolyn Holbrook and Arleta Little to discuss Johnson's memoir Hope in the Struggle. Dr. Josie R. Johnson has been an educator, activist, and public servant for more than seven decades. Along with her work for the Urban League and the University of Minnesota, she has been office manager, campaign manager, and chief of staff for multiple political campaigns and public officials, including campaign manager for the first African American lieutenant governor of Colorado, and co-chair of the African American DFL Caucus in Minnesota. She holds degrees in sociology, education, and education administration. She lives in Minneapolis and continues to serve her community, advocating for equal rights and social justice. Carolyn Holbrook is a writer, educator, and former program director of the Loft Literary Center. She teaches creative writing at Hamline University and is author of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Journeys, which profiles twenty community leaders and programs made possible by Leadership Initiatives in Neighborhoods. In 2010 she received the prestigious Kay Sexton Award presented by Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. Arleta Little is director of Artist Fellowships for the McKnight Foundation. Prior to working in philanthropy, she was executive director of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature.  

The MENC initiative is meant to educate communities to adopt a nonviolent lifestyle in the way in which we were culturally trained by our ancestors, to love and care of our elders.  We have a big problem in our community with elder abuse.  We need your help in telling the stories for the scared and voiceless elders in your community.   There are resources and information online at: MNElderNonviolence.org to report abuse and get help.   It is your elder abuse stories that will bring about change in our community.  Please call  the elder abuse testifier voicemail at: 651.324.9561 or submit your story online at: mneldernonviolence.org under TAKE ACTION. Dr. Josie R. Johnson Bio: An activist for equality for over five-decades, Dr. Josie Johnson is one of Minnesota’s most celebrated civil rights leaders. She has been called a “trailblazer” and “The First Lady of Minnesota Civil Rights.” In the 1950’s and 1960’s she lobbied to pass Minnesota’s anti-discrimination laws, was part of a small group of Minnesotans who took part in the historic March on Washington and served as a community organizer for the Minneapolis Urban League, eventually becoming its director in 1968. In her career, Dr. Johnson served as a legislative liaison to the Mayor of Minneapolis during the Civil Rights upheaval, served as Chief of Staff for the Lt. Governor of Colorado, and worked as the organizer for the Jimmy /Walter Mondale campaign in Tennessee and Kentucy. Dr. Johnson taught in the African American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota and became the first African American appointed by the Legislature to the Board of Regents at the U of M. She served as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and a Senior Fellow for the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs and directed their All-University Forum as diversity director.  The University of Minnesota created “The Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award” in 1997 in her honor.   Recently, Dr. Johnson published her memoir, “Hope In The Struggle” and is often found throughout the community engaging youth in conversation about the love of community that was passed down from our ancestors.