Jada Johnson

she/her

Jada is organizer, strategist, creative, and lover of Black liberation with over 10 years of movement work experience. As a Compton native with “down South” ancestral roots, she works relentlessly to keep the spirit of those who rebelled before her alive. She emphasizes the reframing and development of leadership that is reflective of the philosophy and strategies of Ella Baker. Beginning her organizing work as a teenager, Jada credits her grandmother Yvonne—a former Black Panther—for inspiring her to criticize the status quo. As a college student she participated in a series of state-wide, Black student lead campaigns that challenged the University of California to divest from companies that supported the prison industrial complex. Their work resulted in the University of California terminating $475 million worth of contracts with Wells Fargo. She continues to embody change by investing in her home city and supporting progressive politics.  

She believes that Black bodies are a critical resource that deserves to be invested in and she actively works to support the creation a world where BIPOC communities can thrive. She advocates for progressive leadership and policies that are reflective of the communities that are most impacted. Her frameworks include internationalism, hood politics, poor and working-class centering, Black liberation, disability justice, and intersectionality.

Jada is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach and holds a Masters in the Social and Cultural Analysis of Education with an emphasis in global and urban education. She is also the Student Programs Director of the Afrikan Black Coalition and supports student leadership development and advocacy. You can find her enjoying both a great book and workout somewhere in Southern California. 

“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble” – John Lewis