Nicole A. Johnson, MBA

Founder and Principal Consultant, extraordinary changes

Nicole has over twenty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, group facilitation and resource development.  Her professional mission is to change the odds faced by children, youth and families by providing quality consultation to the individuals, informal groups, advocates and organizations serving them. 

Nicole began her career as a site coordinator for the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School program managing college students to deliver a culturally-based reading curriculum to over 200 children in East Oakland, CA.  As a new manager, she learned first hand the social, academic, and economic challenges facing low income and working class families, and the organizations that serve them.  This experience fueled her commitment to transforming the policies and services impacting children and youth.  It also elevated her interest in strengthening the capacity of youth and young adults to assume greater leadership in their community.  

Before launching Extraordinary Changes in January 2016, Nicole served as Senior Director for Elev8 Baltimore, a full-service community schools initiative.  In this role, she successfully planned and launched a strategy to integrate learning, health and family support services into the operations of four schools in East Baltimore.  Over a seven year period, she transitioned the initiative from start-up to sustainability drawing upon her skills as a facilitator, strategic planner, writer and youth worker.  

Nicole's professional experience is built upon a foundation of academic study, and a passion for children, families and hard-working people in under-served communities.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Stanford University and an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park. She resides presently in Baltimore City, MD with her husband, son and daughter.

Professional Affiliations

Current

  • Attendance Works

  • Baltimore City Public Schools, REACH Fellowship

  • Greater Baltimore Committee, The LEADERship Program Alumni

  • StriveTogether

Past

  • Baltimore Community Foundation

  • Baltimore Corps

  • Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools and Black Student Leadership Network

  • Elev8 Baltimore, a project of the Fund for Educational Excellence

  • Maryland Assembly on School-based Health Care (MASBHC)

  • Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP)

  • LISTEN, Inc.

  • We Need Diverse Books (WNDB)