Leland Johnson

Mr. Johnson is the Dean of Students at Making Waves Education Program, Richmond. He began working with Making Waves in 2004. Although originally he wanted to be an architect, he changed his mind when he began volunteering as a tutor in Sacramento’s Oak Park area. Since 1990, he has held many positions in education/youth services including counseling underrepresented students in Vallejo to help them take advantage of college opportunities; teaching Ethnic Studies for Upward Bound at Sonoma State; working for the City of Richmond, directing a nonprofit; directing youth, family, and community programs for the Coronado Community YMCA (in Richmond); and managing multiple after-school program sites for the West Contra Costa Unified School District. He earned his B.A. in Political Science with a minor in African American Studies from the University of California at Davis. A long-time Richmond resident, he has lived in Concord for the last five years with his wife and four children.