Deidre Johnson serves as CEO and Executive Director of The Center for African American Health in Denver, an organization focused on addressing health inequities affecting African Americans through community-centered services and advocacy. With degrees from Princeton University and Yale School of Management, she brought an entrepreneurial approach to the nonprofit sector, substantially expanding the organization's reach by growing its operating budget, strengthening its infrastructure, and broadening its services across research, policy work, and community empowerment initiatives.
Drawing on both her professional background and personal experience with systemic inequities, Johnson argues that persistent health disparities, from maternal mortality to chronic disease, require comprehensive solutions grounded in community engagement rather than one-off interventions. Her leadership emphasizes listening to communities, addressing the social determinants of health, and building collaborative networks that turn research into policy and practice at the local and state level.
