Grantland L Johnson Institute of Leadership Development

As Grantland Johnson’s life was, from a very early age, focused on making a meaningful contribution that would serve and enhance the common good, especially for those less privileged, so the purpose of the Institute in his name is focused on participants of less privileged and minority groups, including women, who would perhaps not have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills as emerging public servants.

 "My mission in life is to promote the right and to create opportunities for every Californian to attain a decent standard of living, have access to the best possible education and health care, to live in safe communities with a quality environment, and, most of all, to live free of racial and gender barriers. The time that I spent at "Sac State" was instrumental in molding my ideas and aspirations in life. The professors and instructors were concerned not only with the development of the mind, but character as well. With the support of mentors like my grandmother, the late Mayor of Sacramento Joe Serna, Jr., San Francisco Mayor and former California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, and many others too numerous to mention, I emerged an idealistic person, but with the requisite skills, abilities, and knowledge to proudly stand where I am today."

Grantland had for some time had a vision of training people to become leaders so that they could continue the work of positive systems change, in which he so deeply believed. He wanted others to have the good fortune he had had receiving higher education, meeting mentors that could guide him, and opportunities that he had had to shadow experienced leaders, ask questions and observe carefully how they operated. Of course, he mentored hundreds along the way, as City Council of Sacramento, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors where he served as the first Black Chair, Regional Director of Health and Human Services for Region IX in the Clinton Administration, and Secretary of HHS for the State of California in the Davis Administration.

The mission was to allow for the development of future leaders who were committed to serving and, sharing a noble cause, would affect positive systems change in the public arena, whether in policy, elected or appointed positions, or in leadership positions within public agencies. Grantland wanted others to understand the value of serving across intergovernmental levels and within public agencies related to policy and legislation, bringing reform and innovation through systems change using cooperation, collaboration, interchange, communication, and facilitation between internal and external bodies with a shared vision.

Incorporated in 2017, the Institute has now graduated Cohort I in August 2020 with Dr. Angela Davis as keynote, and Cohort II commenced in October 2021 with Board Members, Sandra Simpson, Bill Camp, Ted Scott-Femenella and Alicia Williams addressing the new participants and welcomed by previous graduates.  Phil Hutchings, final Chair of SNCC was the honored guest speaker. Wm. Jahmal Miller also addressed the new Cohort. Cohort II was graduated in 2023. 

We are so excited that Cohort III launched in February 2024 with a focus on preventions and interventions on sexual trafficking, homelessness and community security issues as well as the process of securing school board decisions that are representative of our children's needs, is now ready to enjoy graduation in December 2025! Mentored by our beloved original President of the Board, Bill Camp, Sascha Vogt White is now an elected member of the Twin Rivers School Board. Kali Eshe Jackson has formed her own non-profit helping victims of sexual trafficking and bringing joy through art and dance. Kali is a graduate of the First 5 Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI, 2023), protecting children and women of our community in her daily work; and Jennifer Shaista, also a graduate of the  PLTI (2023), studies business and has formed goals in business as a young entrepreneur and mother of three young children. Their last intensive weekend class is scheduled for November 8th and 9th with Kathryn Hall Trujillo as guest speaker. Graduation ceremony will take place in December 2025.

 Full course requirements, Board information and more can be found on the webpage. 

www.grantlandjohnsoninstitute.com