Alex M. Johnson to oversee Promoting Violence Prevention
May 24, 2018—Alex M. Johnson has been hired as a program director at The California Wellness Foundation, effective June 4. He will be managing grantmaking related to preventing violence.
“For the past 18 years, Alex has been working one way or another to advance equity for underrepresented groups,” said Fatima Angeles, Vice President of Programs. “He has a passion for justice, and he will continue to be a force for good in this new role. We are fortunate to have him on our team.”
Johnson comes to Cal Wellness from Californians for Safety and Justice in Los Angeles where he was the managing director. While at CSJ, Johnson led efforts calling for an end to over-incarceration and a renewed focus on safety priorities rooted in prevention and health. He also worked previously as executive director of Children’s Defense Fund-California, where he led statewide advocacy, policy, program and organizing efforts to ensure access to quality affordable health coverage and care for children and low income families, reform the juvenile justice system, promote educational equity, end child poverty, and improve outcomes for children of color.
In addition, he is no stranger to the critical role of local government. For the last four years, he has been a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Education and he currently serves as its president. Alex has also worked for Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas where he helped lead policy and programmatic efforts focused on education and public safety. With a law degree from American University, Washington College of Law he has also previously served as an attorney for the New York City Department of Education and as an assistant district attorney for the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.
“We are at a unique period in time in which individuals and communities are passionately, and strategically seeking possibilities – possibilities for healing, for peace, for safety and health, and for justice,” said Johnson. “Cal Wellness has always been at the forefront of finding solutions and focusing on what’s possible, and I’m excited to be a part of that energy and vision to bring the possible to fruition.