Author of the book “Working While Black” released January 2004 by Chicago Review Press. The book is a career guide for African-American employees in the workplace, and has been mentioned or reviewed in the major African-American magazines of Essence, Ebony and Black Enterprise. Additionally, “Working While Black” has received attention from many other publications including the following: Recruiting Trends Magazine, Minority MBA Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, the Philadelphia Daily News, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and several other publications.
“Working While Black” was selected by Black Expressions Book Club as a featured alternate in their January 2004 mailing in an exclusive hardcover edition. “Working While Black” went to its second printing in 2005.
Author of the 2007 book “Black Out: The African-American Guide to Successfully Stepping Outside of the Corporate Career Job Box” to be published by Amber Communications Group, the largest publisher of African-American non-fiction books.
Sponsored in a national book and seminar tour for “Working While Black’ by the non-profit organization Project Equality – giving presentations on diversity issues in Kansas City, Missouri, St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Washington D.C. and Louisville.
Some of the reviews of “Working While Black” include the following:
**"This book examines in an insightful way a delicate and difficult issue--the triumph and tragedies of black upward mobility. Don't miss it!" —Cornel West, author of Race Matters
**“Ms. Johnson's book is well written and full of thought provoking insights. She recognizes that not every black person's goals and ambitions are the same. She helped me understand my approach and provided advice that I could use while staying true to my personal values. I wish I had this book when I was starting off my career. It should be required reading for every black person entering the work place.” —Keith H. Williamson, President, Pitney Bowes Global Credit Services
** "At Project Equality we are always seeking ways to provide information about a workplace where everyone is valued and the focus is on the work. I believe all employers should read Working While Black so they might learn how to work more effectively with African American employees. This book provides a powerful insight in the ways that African Americans must continually adjust in the workplace. If employers used that knowledge and responded in a meaningful way, the workplace would be much more productive and healthier for all employees." —Kirk P. Perucca, former President/CEO, Project Equality, Inc.
** Reviewed in the November 1, 2003 issue of Library Journal. They say, “Johnson has plenty of good advice for African Americans on how to excel among white co-workers.”
HIGHLIGHTS
OF DIVERSITY SPEAKING AND TRAINING EXPERIENCES
Interviewed and mentioned in
several magazines, newspapers and radio shows about diversity and inclusion
issues since 2004, including being the featured guest on NPR’s Weekend
Edition (January 10, 2010) for story on black job-seekers in the difficult
economy
Speaker at diversity workshop
for managers at Wal-Mart Headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas in 2006
Scheduled speaker for April
2010 workshop at California State University in Los Angeles on diversity
issues for students entering the workforce
Conducted Continuing Legal
Education diversity workshop for the Kansas Bar Association in 2009
Diversity speaker and
facilitator to several Greater Kansas City, Missouri organizations,
including the Greater Kansas City Legal Recruiters Association, the Kansas
City chapter of the National Black MBA Association, and the Kansas City
chapter of the American Business Women’s Association
Diversity speaker at the
Yellow Freight System Inc. headquarters on behalf of the National
Association of African-Americans in Human Resources
Diversity and inclusion facilitator
for discussions at UPS Headquarters in Atlanta, Augsburg Fortress Press in
Minneapolis, Loyola University in Chicago, and Presbyterian Church
Headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky
Featured speaker on diversity
and inclusion at The Project Equality national conference conducted at the
National Education Association in Washington DC
Keynote speaker at the
Corporate Diversity luncheon at the Urban League in Greater Kansas City
Workshop leader on diversity
issues at Howard University in D.C. for the Urban League Exchange Program
Workshop facilitator the
Economic Empowerment Summit held in Buffalo, New York
Keynote speaker for Prevail-Respect’s “Tell It Like It
Is: Working While Black” Conference in Columbus, Ohio (a daylong event
that organizers designed around my book),
Workshop leader for diversity
issues at the 30th Annual Black Studies Conference in Chicago
Workshop leader for the Black
Women’s Leadership Conference at University of Missouri-Kansas City
Diversity trainer (using
materials prepared by others) for H&R Block in Kansas City and Orange
County, California, for the Firefighters of Topeka, Kansas and for the
city employees of the city of Kansas City, Missouri
Career and professional
Currently, along with being a writer, public speaker and diversity consultant, Ms. Johnson is a contractor legal analyst for the largest law firm in Kansas City, Missouri. Ms. Johnson has an online column in the business section of the Kansas City (Mo.) Star called "Dear Diversity Diva" and has been appointed by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to be a member of its Kansas Advisory Committee.
Certified mediator who has practiced law in the states of Missouri and Kansas
Former employment attorney for two Kansas City, Missouri law firms, including one of the largest in the city (Husch Blackwell Sanders LLC), representing companies and organizations in employment litigation, including Hallmark Cards, the Kansas City, MissouriSchool District, Deffenbaugh Industries, DST, Kansas City Power and Light and Interstate Brands Corporation (IBC).
Has performed mediations for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Kansas City, Missouri Human Relations Department and private mediations
Former journalist, working as a newspaper reporter at the Philadelphia Daily News, the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Austin American-Statesman
Photo by Sam Upshaw Jr. Michelle T. Johnson
Michelle, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, has been working while black since the age of 14. One of her earliest jobs was at a library, where her interest in books flourished into a love of the written word. Michelle attended school in Kansas City, Missouri, and continued to feed her hunger for all things literary by working in libraries while in high school and in college at the University of Kansas.
While at KU, Michelle was bitten by the reporting bug and majored in newspaper journalism. She had summer internships at newspapers in Rochester, New York and Louisville, Kentucky. One of the highlights of her college experience was working as a columnist for the campus newspaper, which gave her the opportunity to interview Gordon Parks, a personal hero whose autobiography “Choice of Weapons” inspired her on her path.
Once she received her journalism degree in 1986, Michelle worked at the Philadelphia Daily News for a short stint before working the duration of her journalism career at the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Austin American-Statesman. Michelle was able to combine her concern for community and civic issues and her love of writing by covering the neighborhoods, and transportation beats at the Louisville Courier- Journal, and the drug and alcohol and county government beats at the Austin American-Statesman.
Upon deciding that the role of mere observer was not her strong suit, Michelle decided to pursue a career in law. Michelle attended the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, where in 1994 she was named, by the Missouri Supreme Court, as the Top Moot Court Oralist of her law school. She received her juris doctorate in 1995. With a strong interest in employment law springing from both her personal experiences and those observed, she focused on the concentration of employment litigation.
Moving back to Kansas City, Missouri to be near her family, Michelle has worked the bulk of her years as an attorney in litigation law firms representing companies whose employees have brought complaints against them. To give herself a well-rounded experience in the field of employment law, Michelle opened her own law firm, and briefly worked as a solo practitioner, primarily representing employees who had complaints against their employers. During this time Michelle also worked as an administrative hearing officer for the city of Kansas City, Missouri, conducting hearings for citizens who have brought complaints regarding violation of the city human rights laws.
Currently, Michelle uses her skills and experience working as a mediator and human resources consultant in Kansas City where she lives with her dogs Hilbert and Henry. In her free time, Michelle knits, walks, reads, is a member of Center for Spiritual Living and writes fiction and non-fiction.
Photo by Sam Upshaw Jr.