Press Release
Published on January 25, 2022
WASHINGTON – At its quarterly board meeting last week, Human Rights First elected Alencia Johnson to its board of directors.
“Alencia brings to our board of directors a deep experience in working for social justice and a wealth of knowledge about the non-profit sector,” said Human Rights First’s President and CEO Michael Breen. “Her advocacy and understanding of cultural change are important additions to our already formidable board.”
“I am thrilled to join Human Rights First, which is so adroitly addressing the central human rights issues of our time,” said Ms. Johnson. “By focusing on social justice, extremism, authoritarianism, and the use and abuse of technology, the organization is making clear that the challenges our society and world face are interconnected and not to be siloed. Now more than ever, each and every one of us need to deepen our understanding and step into the fight. I hope to use my expertise to help Human Rights First find equitable and intersectional solutions.”
Johnson, the founder of social impact agency 1063 West Broad, has spent the last decade connecting social justice, politics, corporate culture, and entertainment. She was a senior advisor to President Biden’s general election campaign, developing Black media and culture strategies. Prior to that role, she served as National Director of Public Engagement for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s primary campaign.
In her six years at Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), she worked for gender equity and women’s rights. She was the architect of Planned Parenthood’s “Stand With Black Women” branding, worked to engage PPFA with social justice issues beyond reproductive rights, and managed cultural partnerships with organizations like the WNBA, SXSW, and the Sundance Film Festival.
Alencia has been a guest on MSNBC, NewsOne, BET, Huffington Post Live, and featured in NPR, Washington Post, ESSENCE, Glamour and more. She was named to Ebony Magazine’s “Power 100” in 2015 and PRWeek’s “40 under 40” list in 2017. In addition to her role at Human Rights First, she serves on the Warner Music Group and the Blavatnik Family Foundation’s Social Justice Fund board of directors and was appointed to the by Governor Ralph Northam.
