Terri A. Johnson

I am a social justice strategist with a career at the intersection of equity, systems change, and organizational transformation. I’ve led from within institutions and consulted from the outside, always committed to building a more just world. My approach is both strategic and creative—grounded in systems thinking and shaped by bold, adaptive solutions that reflect the complexity of real change. In my current roles as a senior leader in an anti-racism organization and founder of C-Change in Action, I help mission-driven teams confront inequity, navigate complexity, and align culture with values. Whether guiding executive teams or community coalitions, I work alongside leaders to cultivate the trust, vision, and alignment required for deep, justice-driven and liberatory transformation to take root and flourish.

• Co-creator of The Chicago Dinners, a pioneering community engagement and group dialogue model featured in The Psychology of Prejudice & Discrimination (Vol. 4), in the chapter The Chicago Dinners: A Model for Community Engagement and Social Change.
• Appointed to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Arts & Culture Transition Team, contributing equity-centered strategy to Chicago’s cultural policy priorities.
• Board Chair, Chicago United for Equity (CUE), guiding one of the city’s most influential racial equity leadership pipelines.
• Equity Expert, Catalyst:ED and Equity in the Center, advising national networks on organizational transformation, DEI strategy, and leadership development.
• Continuing Education includes advanced strategy, DEI, and nonprofit management coursework through Northwestern University (Kellogg), Loyola University Chicago, North Park University, and Rice University.