St. Olaf College Office of Multicultural Affairs and student organization the Cultural Union for Black Expression (CUBE) are pleased to announce the Black History Month Chapel Speaker, Dr. Josie R. Johnson. Dr. Johnson will be speaking on, “Why Do We Observe African American History Month?”
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 Campaign Manager for the Jimmy Carter Campaign in Tennessee.
Dr. Johnson taught in the African American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota and became the first African American appointed 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.
Dr. Johnson will be speaking on Thursday, February 13, 2014 in Boe Memorial Chapel from 11:00 – 11:20 a.m. There is no charge for this event, and it is open to all. She will be in the Norway Room following chapel for a “Meet & Greet” event open to students, faculty and staff.
You must be logged in to post a comment.