From a bitter divorce to homelessness to cancer, Dr. Monroe Johnson Jr. has had more than his fair share of challenges in life. Dr. Johnson faced these trials with resilience and an unwavering belief in God, resolving to devote his life to service in his retirement years.
His professional and personal experiences served as the inspiration for the formation of the nonprofit, the Georgia Higher Arts and Technology Training Institute. It’s a space where community members in Fulton County, Georgia, can come together to learn new skills, build confidence and develop positive relationships. “I had a successful career as an audio-visual (AV) technician,” he said. “Having a specialized skill like AV to fall back on during the ups and downs meant I had a steady stream of income over the years. That’s what we’re trying to do here. We want to expose young people to opportunities to develop a craft so they can have a lucrative career as an employee or entrepreneur.”
Dr. Johnson—who recently received his Doctorate in Christian Counseling—couples the Institute’s career skills curriculum with his other passions: martial arts and counseling. As a Grandmaster in martial arts, he firmly believes in its power to teach self-discipline and resilience. “We have strong men in our organization that love helping kids. Some kids are on the spectrum and I’m so proud to see the progress they’ve made. In fact, one of our members with Autism is close to getting their black belt.” Using the principles he’s learned from being a church Deacon and accredited Christian counselor, Dr. Johnson also mentors young adults who don’t have strong role models in their lives and are looking for guidance.
Bolstered by his faith, Dr. Johnson’s “will” to serve his community was clear, however the “way” to achieve his goals was not. In-person instruction enabled Dr. Johnson and his volunteers to develop enduring relationships with at-risk community members, but that meant that he needed to create a network of spaces where classes could be reliably held. Enter Operation HOPE’s Small Business Coach, Linden Jackson. Mr. Jackson encouraged his long-time friend to join the organization’s eight-week Small Business Development program, which emphasized the importance of developing local partnerships and applying for government contracts. “I don’t meet any strangers,” Dr. Johnson chuckled. “I started going to different events and meeting new people, and when I shared my vision for the Institute, the community showed up.
The Institute has been recognized for its great work in the community—to the tune of $180,000 in county and federal grants. Operation HOPE’s Mr. Jackson assisted Dr. Johnson with the grant application process by introducing him to senior county executives who could share more details about the various grants. For Mr. Jackson the grand opening of Dr. Johnson’s own center in South Fulton was a pride-filled moment. Attended by community leaders, including South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau and his staff as well as Atlanta’s leading radio station, V-103, the ribbon cutting was the moment he realized that “we did the work and it paid off well.”
Today, the Institute serves 250 people per week, who fan out across the county to attend classes at senior centers, county recreation centers and church multipurpose rooms, in addition to the organization’s own space in South Fulton. Dr. Johnson has big plans for the future, and it’s the stories of how the Institute is making a difference in people’s lives that keeps him driving forward.
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