Nelson Johnson has been active in the movement for
social and economic justice since high school in the late 1950's. He
served as a student leader Student Government Association at A&T
State University, in Greensboro, NC in 1970. Between high school and
college Rev. Johnson served four years in the United States Air Force.
He continues to work for social and economic justice in Greensboro as
Pastor of Faith Community Church and Executive Director of The Beloved
Community Center of Greensboro.
Though involved in a myriad of initiatives, Rev. Johnson centers his efforts on facilitating a process of comprehensive community building, which include a convergence of racial and ethnic diversity, social and economic justice, and genuine participatory democracy. At the Beloved Community Center, he and his colleagues attempt to bring together the homeless, the imprisoned, impoverished neighborhoods, and other disenfranchised groups in the spirit of mutual support and community.
Guided by his three-part emphasis of diversity, justice and democracy, Rev. Johnson is actively building relationships with and providing leadership within organized labor, faith groups and other public and private community organizations. He and other local ministers of the Greensboro Pulpit Forum led an active support effort in 1997 that resulted in a significant contract settlement for workers at the Greensboro K-Mart Distribution Center. As a result, he is frequently invited to share that success story at workshops and meetings, including those sponsored by the George Meany Labor Institute, the AFL-CIO of New York, and the Michigan AFL-CIO.
Because of his extensive experience in community organizing and
socio-political analysis, Rev. Johnson is routinely invited to speak on
university campuses around the country to share his vision of community
building. He has written articles for the University of Pennsylvania
Journal of Labor and Employment Law and The Witness Magazine, published
by the National Episcopal Church. Rev. Johnson is also a former
Contributing Editor for the Black Scholar Magazine, National Chair and
Contributing Editor for the African World Newspaper, and Assistant
Editor for the Carolina Peacemaker of Greensboro, NC.
Rev. Johnson is a native of Halifax County, NC. He received a baccalaureate degree in political science from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master of Divinity Degree from the School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He is married to Joyce Hobson Johnson, a retired research director and School of Business and Economics faculty member at A&T who now works side by side with Johnson at the BCC. The Johnsons have two adult daughters, Akua Johnson-Matherson, a university administrator and Ayo Johnson, a registered nurse and certified recreational therapist. Rev. Johnson and Joyce are also the proud grandparents of three granddaughters, Alise, Imani and Nia and one grandson, Nelson Josiah.