JEFF JOHNSON

Jeff Johnson serves as a voice of strength for a generation -- within the hip-hop community and abroad. An architect for social change, as well as an innate ability to both influence and inspire, Johnson is one of today’s most gifted leaders in both the political and entertainment arenas. Recently, he was named by Source Magazine as one of the hip-hop generation’s key political players.

His roles as an activist and strategist have spanned from serving as the National Youth Director for the NAACP to being the founder for MyNationOnline.com. In every aspect of his political leadership, Johnson has been highly instrumental in representing and articulating the views of young people and galvanizing voters to the polls. Johnson’s powerful reputation as a political organizer caused hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons to take notice, leading Simmons to appoint Johnson as Vice-President for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.

In 2004, BET offered Johnson a unique opportunity to present his views to the hip-hop generation nationally. Thus, Rap City’s Cousin Jeff was born. Shortly thereafter, Johnson began producing his own show, The Cousin Jeff Chronicles, which addresses issues relevant to young people in urban America. From sex to hip-hop obesity, it provided a fresh venue for engaging youth in current affairs and news issues in a way not seen since BET’s highly successful and ground-breaking forum Teen Summit.

His commitment to fostering broad-based communication about issues related to race, politics, popular culture and socio-economics on a national and international level has led to hundreds of speaking requests, as he travels the nation addressing large crowds speaking truth to power.

As a voice for social change, Johnson is passionate about his work. “The time is now,” he asserts. “The youth of today are the leaders of TODAY. If we fail to sow the seeds of education and real leadership into our young people today, we will be forced to reap the weeds of our ignorance verses the flowers of our love tomorrow.”