Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenya Johnson.
Hi Kenya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where the seeds of my passion for justice and community care were first planted. When I began college, I chose to study social work—a decision that carried me through a bachelor’s, master’s, and eventually a PhD in the field. While my early ambition was to support children who had experienced trauma, my path quickly expanded. I realized that healing individual children also required transforming the systems around them. This understanding deepened my commitment to racial justice and to building a world where all children can thrive and live into their fullest potential.
That journey led me to Las Vegas, where I continued advocating for racial equity and stepped into civic engagement and political action as part of my professional life. Eventually, I made my way to Houston, Texas—a place that has become home. Here, I continue to practice social work in multiple dimensions. I serve as a professor in the Social Work Program at the University of Houston–Downtown, where I have the privilege of teaching, collaborating with remarkable colleagues, and mentoring the next generation of social workers.
Beyond the classroom, I co-founded the RE Collective and Full Circle Strategies, two organizations dedicated to helping leaders and institutions center race equity in meaningful, sustainable ways. My clients and collaborators span sectors and communities across the country, each partnership reinforcing my belief in collective transformation.
Every role I’ve held and every project I’ve taken on has prepared me for the work I do now—work that aligns fully with my purpose.
In Houston, I’m surrounded by the people who ground and sustain me—my children, my mom, sister, niece, nephew, several cousins, and a wide circle of friends who have become like family. I love exploring all that Texas has to offer, especially when it means discovering new places with the people I care about. Holidays are a cherished time for us, filled with cooking, laughter, and connection. I also enjoy baking and, on days when the humidity is kind, relaxing outside with our dogs.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road here hasn’t always been easy, but I’m grateful for every part of it. Each chapter of my journey has taught me something new about who I am and how to work meaningfully with others. There were moments when I felt discouraged, when my voice seemed to land only with me, and when relationships or collaborations didn’t turn out the way I hoped. In those times, I learned to accept the loss, extend myself grace, and keep moving toward what was truly meant for me.
My commitment to racial justice has required me to step into difficult conversations and confront discomfort head-on. Those experiences—both the challenging and the rewarding—have strengthened my capacity to lead, listen, and stay engaged even when the work is hard. One of the greatest honors of my career is being able to share those lessons with my students, helping them navigate their own journeys with courage, curiosity, and integrity.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Full Circle Strategies is a Black owned, women led firm, driven by a highly qualified team of facilitators and strategists who bring combined 50+ years of experiences in race equity, organizational change, racial justice advocacy, and social-emotional learning and support.
We support organizations and communities in creating and sustaining a culture of anti-racism. We do this through learning and dialogue sessions, coaching and skill building, and strategic consulting carried out in our Holistically Engaging in Anti-Racist Transformation® Academy known as HEARTspeak Academy program and Assessing Workplace Attitudes toward Racial Equity™ Scale.
Full Circle Strategies leverages it’s programs and services, to create opportunities for organizations to DISCOVER the barriers and facilitators to transforming organizations and communities, to initiate CHANGE through skill-based training, coaching, and strategy development, and to LEAD in centering anti- racism and racial equity work.
We are proud that we have developed our own theory, framework, and curricula to engage in this work. To date we have worked with 100+ business leaders and their organizations.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I enjoy most about Houston is its warmth—both in the weather and in the people. I love being just a short drive from the Gulf, having access to incredible food, and living in a city enriched by so many diverse cultures and communities.
What I enjoy least are the challenges that come with it: the limited programs addressing educational equity, housing insecurity, and food insecurity, along with the ever-present mosquitos and notoriously congested traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fullcirclehou.com
- Instagram: Full Circle Strategies
- LinkedIn: Full Circle Strategies
