PATRICK JOHNSON
Patrick Johnson has worked as a consultant in and outside of the Mohawk Valley on the issues of race relations and gun violence since 2001. He has facilitated hundreds of workshops and lectures for law enforcement, college faculty, staff and students, as well as non-profit and business professionals and people from of all walks of life in the community. He is currently working with key leaders in the region to address critical areas of influence as they relate to race relations and inclusion for a better community.
Patrick was a Life Skills Counselor at the Resource Center for Independent Living in Utica, NY from 1996 to 2003. In this capacity he counseled men and women coming out of prison to help them make smooth re-entry into the community. He also facilitated Stress Management groups for individuals in recovery from drugs and alcohol.
Patrick served as the director of Utica YWCA’s Racial Justice Department from 2003 to 2009 and was recognized by the YWCAs of the Northeast United States for Best Practice.
Patrick founded Hoops and Dreams in 2002 and New Life Institute in 2005. The mission of these projects is- Empowering and Rebuilding Black America. The former utilizing basketball courts and the latter utilizing classrooms, these initiatives focus on the biggest issues plaguing African American communities placing special emphasis on anger management, peaceful alternatives to violence, drug and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, life and job skills, racism, self-confidence and the importance of education.The primary purpose of these programs is to raise the consciousness in the African American community about what must be done to enhance the quality of life in their own community.
In 2006, Hoops and Dreams launched the “Stop the Violence” campaign. The goal was to experience a summer free of homicides in Utica, NY. Due to God’s grace and community cooperation, for the first time several years, Utica experienced a summer free of homicides.
Since 2013, as a member of the Oneida County District Attorney’s team, Patrick has served as the first program director of “Save our Streets”, which aims to eliminate gun violence in Utica. As the DA’s Community Liaison, he works directly with gang members as well as with individuals who are at-risk of being vulnerable toward this violence.
Since 2009 Patrick has been employed by Mohawk Valley Community College to enroll formerly incarcerated students and also serves as the Community Civility Liaison assisting the college address racism among faculty and students.
Patrick received the Follow the Leader Award from Leadership Mohawk Valley and he was also awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award by Mohawk Valley Frontiers for his outstanding community service.