Alex M. Johnson is vice president of public affairs at The California Wellness Foundation where he oversees government relations, community engagement and strategic communications. He returned to Cal Wellness in January 2024 after serving as vice president at Bryson Gillette, a strategic communications and public affairs firm. Before his time at Bryson Gillette, Johnson served as a senior leader at Cal Wellness for nearly five years in various grantmaking roles, managing director for Californians for Safety and Justice, and executive director of Children’s Defense Fund-California. Alex previously led education, youth development, and public safety efforts for a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He began his career in New York City advocating for domestic violence victims as an assistant district attorney in Bronx County and previously clerked at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Alex serves on the boards of Trust for Public Land, Southern California Grantmakers, Urban Peace Institute, and the UCLA Luskin School Board of Advisors. He previously served on the Los Angeles County Board of Education, including a term as president. A graduate of Morehouse College and American University, Washington College of Law, Alex’s writings have appeared in Huffington Post, The Guardian, Los Angeles Daily News, San Jose Mercury News, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, California Health Report, and Sacramento Bee.