Meet Brisa Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brisa Johnson.

Brisa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, my background is representative of San Diego’s border town diversity, growing up with a Black Father and a Latina Mother.  I was born and raised in San Diego and even obtained all my education here. I completed an Associate’s Degree in Black Studies from San Diego Community College District, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Point Loma Nazarene University. Being exposed to Social Justice in college sparked my passion for progressive issues such as the struggle for equality, women’s rights, and racial justice.

Working as the Civic Engagement Manager for Alliance San Diego, a community empowerment organization that builds coalitions to promote justice and social change, I ran large-scale voter engagement field programs winning six progressive policy battles and assisted in registering over 2,500 people in the County of San Diego. I am currently the Civic and Community Engagement Director on behalf of Labor working closely with United Domestic Workers, the Homecare Providers Union, engaging and training union members throughout California on Civic Engagement strategies and the importance of voting.

Separately from my career in the Social Justice field, I am the lead singer of San Diego’s award-winning band The Lyrical Groove and have used my music as a platform for healing and truth-telling. Lastly, I am Mother of a young King named Josiah Rai, who has kept me balanced during the storms and been the light in so many dark spaces.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into 320 Express Your Rhythm story. Tell us more about it.
Being an Afro- Latina woman in San Diego, I didn’t see myself in many places or positions. The Black community in San Diego is an experience with limited resources for growth with us being 8% of the population according to the US census.

Outside of my career, for the past six years, I have organized and led multiple events centered in creating safe spaces for communities of color through an organization I co-founded called “She Is Soul.” Each event hosted by “She Is Soul” was rooted in individuals seeing themselves in a positive light, as well as seeing themselves in one another. The events themselves covered a wide range of interest from performing arts to panel and group discussions, as well as networking and mentorship opportunities. The platform we created allowed folks from the most underrepresented and underserved communities to be embraced with love and dignity, and above all a place where they were empowered to reach their full potential.

As racial tensions grow in our country, people of color are experiencing more discrimination in everyday spaces such as grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. For many of us, we are faced with the uncertainty of whether there will be a threat of violence against our physical bodies and/or our emotional and mental health. It’s extremely vital to create safe spaces where discrimination and racial bias cannot exist. For underrepresented communities to be able to thrive, it’s imperative to create places in which we can gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalization that permeate every other societal space. In the City of San Diego, we see huge disparities in communities of color and a lack of equity in historically, as well as predominantly, Black neighborhoods. Because of this, it is crucial for San Diego to create ‘safe spaces’ where cultural differences are not a threat and where folks can be unapologetically themselves without fear of hate.

Now, in 2019, I am working on the creation of a cultural hub called “320, Express Your Rhythm” where music, art, and social justice purposely collide to empower, educate, and provide for underrepresented communities. 320 will not only house the 5 original events first introduced by “She Is Soul”, but will provide co-working spaces, a café/lounge area, full bar, a community bookstore, a retail space for local Black vendors, and an performing arts stage for, but not limited to, music, poetry, dance, and guest speakers.  As a huge advocate for buying Black and supporting Black Business, my purpose is to continue to create spaces for underrepresented communities to be unapologetically themselves.

In order to break the cycle of inequity, we need to change the way we invest into communities of color and create new pathways for success for the most vulnerable that have been oppressed by the current systems in place. We can no longer ignore the lack of equity and the lack of investment into communities of color. Spaces that prioritize underrepresented communities allow opportunity for equitable economies. 3.20 must exist, one way or another, in the City of San Diego, because everyday our communities lives our on the line, and like any other human, we deserve the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
The moments in my life one could view as luck I have learned are really God’s grace on me. I’ve been blessed with a lot of opportunities and open doors that allowed me to be successful, that allowed me the experience to move up in my field.

This doesn’t take away from one having to work hard to be dedicated to their craft, but it definitely set up a strong foundation so that when I moved, I stood on solid ground.

In regards to bad luck, as a spiritual person, I truly believe that all pain is a platform in your life to help you tap into your potential and reach your purpose.

One thing I wholeheartedly believe is GOD IS ALWAYS PURPOSE-FULL!!! No wasted pain, no wasted tears, no wasted experiences!

As I am getting older, I am making more of an effort to not focus on why things happened, but accepting that they happened and they had to! In my own journey, I try not to look at things as bad luck or good luck I just try to be intentional about not compromising or losing myself by making sure at my core I am rooted in light and love.

Contact Info:

• Website: 320SanDiego.com
• Email: 320sandiego@gmail.com
• Instagram: 320SanDiego or B_lauren
• Twitter: 320SanDiego or @b_lauren320

Image Credit:
Sterling Miller

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