Dr. Lloyd Sheldon Johnson has been nationally recognized for his work in diversity, human relations, and education. Professor Emeritus of both Psychology and English at Bunker Hill Community College, Johnson has received many awards and recognitions for teaching excellence. He developed courses in African literature and Middle East literature through grants provided by the U.S. Office of Education. He has been a regular resource faculty member for learning communities at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He has led workshops and keynoted conferences for Achieving the Dream, the Atlantic Center for Learning Communities, the Massachusetts Community College Council, and many other professional organizations. In addition to receiving his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Johnson was educated at Wayne State University, Antioch University and Harvard University. He has lived and studied abroad, weaving his life experiences into the courses he teaches and the workshops and seminars he develops and leads. For years Johnson was the multicultural specialist at Milton Academy and provided new teacher training for the National Association for Independent Schools (NAIS). A writer and professional actor, Johnson, EQUITY member, has been recognized by his fellow members of both the Screen Actors Guild and the National Association of Television and Radio Artists for his commitment to equal employment opportunities for actors of color and those with physical challenges. Johnson served a three year tenure as a member of the editorial board of the higher education journal, Thought and Action.
Governor Charlie Baker recently presented Johnson with the esteemed Manuel Carballo Award for public service to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2016.
The multidimensional Johnson, a seer-visionary-healer, is a Reiki Master, hypnotherapist, counselor, and teacher. He holds many certifications in New Age modalities and many awards for professional achievements. His research interests include the study of spirituality, the education of urban males, the integration of spirituality into higher education pedagogy, and alternative therapies for health and wholeness. He engages such topical issues as: race and gender, conflict management and resolution, moral and ethical dilemmas in the workplace, violence prevention, recruitment and retention of faculty and students of color, and inclusive counseling and intervention.
Dr. Johnson’s own personal journey of transformation has taken him to many countries in West Africa and Europe. He has lived, traveled, and studied in Cuba, Brazil, many islands of the Caribbean, Singapore, and Thailand. He is a published writer, motivational speaker, and researcher. His workshops and seminars have been described as “powerful and dynamic.” He is committed to bringing fresh ideas and new strategies to the professionals he works with so that they can model and foster “change for transformation.”
Paul Goodnight is a Boston based artist who has developed his own unique aesthetic philosophy to document the humanity of people around the world, often incorporating African themes and symbols to provide depths of history and culture. For his ability to capture these elements and integrate them with sport, Goodnight was selected as the American Sport Art Museum and Archives’ 1997 Sport Artist of the Year. Goodnight has developed a strong and influential following. Former Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas and actor Wesley Snipes are just two frequent buyers of Goodnight’s work. He routinely sends pieces to the Hollywood Cinema Arts where TV and movie set designers choose artwork for productions. His first break came in 1982 when a print was selected for “The Cosby Show” and he continues to receive acclaim and recognition today. This African-American artist, who specializes in ethnic images, never had it easy. Traumatized by two years of fierce combat in Vietnam, Goodnight returned home mentally devastated. It wasn’t until he looked to his childhood passion of art that he turned the corner to recovery. His hobby quickly turned into a profession after he received his degree from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1976. His creative efforts are nurtured and inspired by several artists.
Join us Sunday, May 5th following the 2pm matinee for a conversation with Mary-dith E. Tuitt about Black Veterans in Boston: From the 54th and the Tuskegee Airmen to Today. Mary-dith E. Tuitt, “Ms. Mary” graduated from Boston Technical High School in 1985 and entered the United States Navy after 1 year of delayed entry.
Dr. Monica White Ndounou is Associate Professor of Theater, Public Voices Fellow (2019-2020) and Sony Music Fellow (2017-2018) at Dartmouth College. She is the immediate Past President of the Black Theatre Association of (ATHE) as well as the convener of The 2018 International Black Theatre Summit at Dartmouth College hosted in collaboration with The CRAFT Institute, a nonprofit organization she founded and serves as executive director. The organization focuses on fixing broken pipelines into arts and entertainment by overhauling formal training across platforms to more accurately reflect national and global demographics. In addition to performing a range of roles her directing credits include new works and plays by August Wilson, Ntozake Shange and many others. She is the award-winning author of Shaping the Future of African American Film: Color- Coded Economics and the Story Behind the Numbers. Her current book project, Acting Your Color: The Craft, Power and Paradox of Acting for Black Americans 1950s to the present is part of a multi-media project exploring black American acting theories and practices.