Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to J. Christopher Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

J. Christopher , appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Mobilizing Millennials: The social state of the United States is currently at an all-time high, with daily attacks against marginalized groups of people1. The need for a fierce and robust response is evident, as black people are being viciously executed at the hands of police officers who took an oath to protect and serve all people2. Political and legislative weaponry has advanced all over the nation, with constant attacks on people’s health and bodily autonomy, LGB and trans people, voting rights, equitable housing, livable wages, healthcare, and more1.

The year 2020 brought the greatest extent of the Coronavirus, but the country quickly learned that the War on Color would not slow down. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd’s life was tragically ended by a Minneapolis police officer, which struck an intense chord with the United States of America. Despite the shutdown, advocacy work did not come to a standstill, and the Inaugural Mobilizing Millennials Rally and March was organized with just two weeks of planning time. Over 300 people gathered in support to take an intentional stand against hatred, bigotry, and cruelty on Juneteenth 2020. A rally was held first with a program full of diverse people and perspectives, followed by a march to City Hall where a letter was addressed to the mayor and city council.

As the founder of Mobilizing Millennials, who started the organization to spread political literacy to a demographic of people who may not be so enthusiastic to vote, I realized that the vision was being birthed to be much greater than planned. A community meeting was held to discuss issue areas personal to the citizens of New Orleans and proposed solutions to them. Non-profit paperwork was filed shortly after that meeting, and the rest is history.

Tabernacle of Truth: I identify as a black, cisgender, omnisexual man with an intense love for God. I always wanted to be a preacher and felt “called” to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was raised at St. Matthew United Methodist Church located in Algiers of New Orleans, Louisiana and became trained in certain areas of the ministry. I dreamed of further developing in the United Methodist Church, but social and culture wars resulted in political activity that I did not want to participate in. I majored in political science in college and decided I no longer wanted to pastor or be the undershepard of my own congregation, but rather be a visiting minister when invited to preach The Word.

I was always personally conflicted with the idea of being a Christian preacher, let alone a church pastor. It wasn’t until I visited an affirming and inclusive church in Atlanta that I became more aware of self and more aware of the truthfulness of God. I launched the Tabernacle of Truth on February 13, 2022, my birthday, with the intention of promoting inclusivity and welcoming all people. Since then, we meet two Sundays a month with hopes of expanding services and programming soon. We believe that God affirmed them and Christ confirms us every day.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As an activist, organizer, and pastor, I am driven by a desire to serve others and help them identify and develop their own purpose in life. My broad background and experience have equipped me to assist people, businesses, and campaigns in reaching their optimal success. I am issues-driven and solutions-based, and this theme has resonated throughout my work, including my history-making run for United States Congress for Louisiana’s Second Congressional District. I have developed a curriculum, The N.O.W. Experience, which is designed to assist people in reaching personal and professional goals. The curriculum is not limited to one particular field but is designed to create and implement structure to the vision one seeks to expand. The N.O.W. Experience assists the explorer in creating a M.A.P. (Most Achievable Plan) that is strategically crafted to support the goal that is being set out to be accomplished. The curriculum also includes M.A.P. Rerouting, which guides the explorer in navigating changes to their path while remembering the end destination.

As someone who is part of the LGB and trans community, I have a justice complex and take the response to deliberate discrimination personally. I have been front and center in many social justice movements and advocacy efforts, both locally and nationally. I am proud to be extremely active in my local community, the New Orleans Metropolitan area, while also creating impact on a national scale. My work involves me actively participating on various boards, as well as assisting in executing national planning projects, ensuring equity is always prioritized. Aside from serving in the non-profit sector, it is important that I am boots on the ground when it comes to lobbying for just legislation.

As a pastor, I am called to serve people. Being part of the LGB and trans community does not make the weight of those challenges lighter, especially when you know you have been called by God to preach The Word, yet still confronted with the bigotry of man. I was called to preach at a very early age, having rendered my first sermon at 16. I am a founding pastor of the Tabernacle of Truth, a social justice-centered ministry emphasizing real solutions to real problems for real people. We are always affirming and intentionally inclusive. It is important to note that no matter your religious or spiritual background, all are welcome to fellowship at God’s house.

In terms of consulting, I have a broad background and experience that has equipped me with skills such as communication, analysis, and project management and coordination. These skills are important in consulting, where the ability to absorb things quickly and come to conclusions is crucial. I am also driven by values such as making the client the ‘star’ of the project and ensuring their success is prioritized.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a visionary, it is important to recognize that no one will value your creation as much as you do. It is necessary to unlearn the idea that something is owed to us or our vision. No one will have the same level of excitement or passion to complete tasks as we do. It is important to note that growing pains will happen as we are constantly learning and the world is ever-changing. Creating systems that work for us and adhering to them is crucial. However, it is also important to be flexible as there is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating solutions and resolving issues.

Community support and buy-in will not always be consistent. It is important not to take this personally as people tend to follow trends. For instance, Mobilizing Millennials’ Inaugural March had over 300 change makers present, but as time went on, the overall excitement around organizing dwindled. However, it is important to remember that while excitement may die down, the issues are still of concern, and there are still people committed to achieving results as they know social justice issues are not going away anytime soon.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Your team is a reflection and extension of you. When people see members of your team, they should expect the same level of care and service as if you were providing it directly. Here are five pieces of wisdom to keep in mind when managing a team:

1. Value Contributions: Afford your team the opportunity to contribute their valuable ideas. When team members feel like they are actively contributing to the change, they become more enthusiastic and committed to seeing it through.

2. Avoid Passive Aggression: Emotional dysfunction and passive-aggressive behavior can create a toxic work environment. Handle any personal issues before interacting with your team to ensure a positive and productive atmosphere.

3. Embrace Different Ideas: As the boss, it’s important to be gracious and open to the ideas your team presents. Constantly rebuking their ideas can stifle their voices and hinder potential progress. Help your team develop and refine their ideas to align with the project’s goals.

4. Assess Strengths and Challenges: Familiarize yourself with the skill sets of each team member and assign duties that align with their strengths. This not only increases productivity but also boosts morale. Recognize that not every task is meant for everybody.

5. Prioritize Mental Health: Check in with your team regularly to show that you care about their well-being. The mental health crisis is prevalent, and fostering an environment of care and concern can improve productivity and job satisfaction.

Remember, effective team management requires continuous learning and development of managerial skills. Empower your employees and provide them with the authority to make decisions, which leads to quicker and more efficient customer service. By following these principles, you can create a positive and successful team dynamic..

Contact Info:

• Website: MobilizingMillennials.org
• Instagram: @JCJforLA | @MobilizingMillennials | @TabOfTruth
• Facebook: /IamJChristopherJohnson – /MobilizingMillennials – /TabOfTruth
• Linkedin: /in/j-christopherjohnson
• Twitter: @JCJforLA | @MobiMills

Image Credits
WWL-TV