A Reflection on the Legacy of Michael Johnson
Darrell Williams
The passing of Michael Johnson, former CEO of the Madison Boys & Girls Club, is a tremendous loss for Wisconsin and for the countless young people, families, and communities whose lives he touched. While his death brings sadness, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on a life dedicated to service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to children.
I first met Michael when I was serving as Interim Superintendent of the Beloit School District. From that very first meeting, it was clear that we shared a common passion: helping children succeed and strengthening the communities in which they live. Michael possessed a unique ability to connect vision with action. He did not simply talk about creating opportunities for young people—he worked tirelessly to make those opportunities a reality. His dedication to ensuring that every child had access to support, guidance, and hope was evident in everything he did.
I also had the privilege of working alongside Michael while serving as the State Administrator for Wisconsin Emergency Management during the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of civil unrest. During some of the most challenging times our state has faced, Michael remained steadfast in his concern for the well-being and safety of the Greater Madison community. Even amid uncertainty and crisis, he never lost sight of what mattered most—our children. His ability to remain focused, compassionate, and solutions-oriented demonstrated the kind of leadership that communities desperately need during difficult times.
What made Michael exceptional was not only his commitment to service but also his courage. He understood that true leadership requires the willingness to step forward, make difficult decisions, and advocate for those whose voices are often unheard. That spirit is reflected in the title of his book, The Audacity to Lead. Michael truly embodied that message. He had the audacity to lead, and he led from the front. He did not wait for others to create change; he became the catalyst for it.
Michael’s story was also one of remarkable strength and resilience. Through challenges and adversity, he demonstrated perseverance, determination, and faith in the potential of others. His life serves as a powerful example for future generations of leaders, educators, community advocates, and young people. His legacy is not measured solely by the positions he held, but by the lives he transformed and the hope he inspired.
Although Michael Johnson will be deeply missed, he will be remembered even more. His influence continues through the organizations he strengthened, the communities he uplifted, and the countless individuals he mentored and encouraged. His legacy lives on in every child who dares to dream bigger, every leader who chooses service over self-interest, and every community that benefits from his vision.
Michael Johnson’s life reminds us that leadership is not about titles—it is about impact. His impact was profound, and his legacy will endure for generations to come. May we honor his memory by continuing the work he so passionately embraced: serving others, uplifting children, and leading with courage, compassion, and purpose.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Michael Johnson
Ruben L. Anthony, Jr., Ph.D, President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Madison
The Urban League of Greater Madison family is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Michael Johnson, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County.
Michael was a longstanding partner to the Urban League, a respected colleague, and a good friend. Over the years, the Urban League and the Boys & Girls Clubs both shared a deep commitment to creating opportunities for young people, strengthening families, and advancing equity across Dane County.
I had the privilege of knowing Michael not just as a leader, but as a friend. He brought a rare combination of bold vision, relentless energy, and genuine care for people. Michael’s passing is an enormous loss for our community. His absence will be felt by youth and families across this region.
On behalf of the Urban League of Greater Madison, I extend my deepest condolences to Michael’s family, to his colleagues at the Boys & Girls Clubs, and to the countless young people whose lives were forever changed because of him.
The Loss of a Leader
Gloria Ladson-Billings
On Monday, June 8, 2026, many residents of Madison and Dane County woke up to the shockingly sad news that a larger than life community leader had died. Michael Johnson, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County died suddenly at a family home in the Chicagoland area. Only 50 years old, Johnson’s death has left many of us speechless and disbelieving this news. Many of us had just seen Johnson at a social event on Saturday night but just as the Bible says, “… you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14).
Johnson has led the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County for the past 17 years with clubs in South Madison, Allied Drive, Fitchburg (the McKenzie Workforce Development Center) and Sun Prairie and has raised an amazing amount of money—approximately $50 million—to support the clubs’ programs and activities. Over the years his legendary “White Parties” brought top tier talent to Madison including Danny Glover, Allen Iverson, Larenz Tate, Taye Diggs, Bern Nadette Stanis, and Gladys Knight. The headliner for this year’s White Party is comedian and longtime talk show host, Jay Leno.
Johnson was instrumental in initiating the AVID-TOPS (Advancement Via Individual Development – Teens of Progress) in area high schools where students who are able to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher receive college readiness classes. Each year, seniors in the program make a public announcement about the institutions of higher education they plan to attend.
Another powerful project that Johnson led was the re-naming of Madison’s Memorial High School to Vel Phillips Memorial High School and the initiative to commission and install the sculpture of Vel Phillips on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Capitol. This is the only sculpture of a Black woman installed on the grounds of a state capitol anywhere in the United States.
In addition to his many public acts of service, Michael Johnson was a devoted husband to Toya Whitaker Johnson and their 3 children. The ability to balance both the demanding work of the Boys and Girls Clubs and a busy family life is an important attribute of what made Johnson a true leader.
Over the next few months and weeks community members will reminisce and remember the many contributions that Michael Johnson has made to the Madison and Dane County community. We will remember that he was a true leader!
I’m incredibly saddened by the loss of Michael. He was a dear friend, and he always centered community and our local families and children. His passion and bias for action came from that deep commitment. When our community needed to come together most, Michael was always one of the first to say yes and to ensure that people got the support they needed. We often talked about how we were well matched. He was the quick-to-respond-mobilize-right-now leader while I was the disciplined-work-with-others-and-change-things-long-term leader. We regularly acknowledged our community needs both. I’m going to miss our texts and late-night conversations. And I’ll miss his amazing spirit, drive and fun.
To his family, his team at Boys & Girls Clubs and everyone whose life he touched, my heart goes out to you. Dane County has lost a driving force, and we will honor his legacy by continuing to support the children and families he loved so deeply.
Rest well, Michael. Your work lives on.
• Renee Moe
Reflections on Michael Johnson
Dr. Frank Byrne, Urban League of Greater Madison Board Member, (chair 2024-2026)
Michael Johnson was a force of nature, larger than life. He lit up every room, filling it with energy, optimism, his smile, and best of all, love. If Michael loved you, you knew, and he loved a lot of people. And a lot of people loved him. I won’t forget my first meeting with Michael and Kaleem Caire on South Park Street when they accepted jobs in Madison. They filled me with energy, and hope, and confidence we could make Madison a better place for all. Supporting Boys & Club with my hospital colleagues helped us live our mission.
Writing this requires me to acknowledge he’s gone, so I’ve delayed it as long as I could. My mind is flooded with so many memories of times with Michael, at the Boys & Girls Club Bike Ride, his 40th birthday party, and at Brat Fest, where Michael convinced Steve Goldberg to get into a clear plastic sphere and spin in the pond. Steve broke his foot in that escapade.
We grieve for Toya and the Johnson family. Our community mourns with you and laments Michael’s passing. He changed every life he touched for the better, not only the kids at Boys and Girls Club, but also community leaders, donors, partners and people in Wisconsin and beyond. When tragedy struck, he ran toward the fire, locally and far away. Michael was a leader who lifted others, made us believe in ourselves, made us believe a better future is possible. Michael, we love you, we miss you, and we’re heartbroken. Your legacy and your impact are forever. The work will continue. We promise.
Michael Johnson was one of the most talented nonprofit leaders I’ve ever known. He was a visionary, an extraordinary fundraiser, and someone who understood how to bring people together to make an impact. His knowledge of the nonprofit sector was second to none, and he had a rare ability to move quickly from an idea to action. When Michael saw a need, he didn’t wait around for someone else to solve it. He built partnerships, raised resources, and found ways to help people. Countless lives are better because Michael chose to use his gifts in service to others.
As much as Michael loved the work, he loved God and his family even more. He adored his wife, Toya. He didn’t just love her. He adored her. MJ talked about her with pride, gratitude, and affection. He was just as proud of his children and never seemed to get over how smart, mature, and grounded they had become. What I’ll remember most wasn’t his fundraising ability or his leadership skills. It was his love for people. Michael genuinely cared about those who were hurting and never stopped looking for ways to help. I’ll miss my friend. Give Jesus a hug for me, MJ. We’ll keep loving people and serving others down here. The work continues. I got you.
• Henry Sanders Jr.
Michael Johnson’s tenure as President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County (BGCDC) fundamentally redefined what a youth organization could achieve, thereby transforming BGCDC into a powerful engine for education, service, and advocacy right here in Madison. Most notably, the AVID/TOPS partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is a cornerstone in helping high schoolers prepare for college. A key success is how BGCDC embeds coordinators and tutors directly in our local high schools; this collaboration consistently drives graduation rates above 90% and opens clear pathways to higher education for thousands of underrepresented students. Michael’s forward-thinking vision also culminated in pioneering initiatives like the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, which offers career, entrepreneurship, and skilled-trades training to help young people transition directly into high-earning, sustainable jobs. Whether mobilizing efforts towards emergency relief during a community crisis or spearheading the historic campaign for the Vel Phillips statue at the Wisconsin State Capitol, his legacy is woven into the fabric of Madison as a visionary leader who provided hope and service for the greater good, impacting generations to come.
• Dr. Leslie Petty, Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, Board of Directors
Michael Johnson made an extraordinary difference in our community, both as CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County and as a dedicated champion for youth and families. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, especially through the AVID/TOPS program in the Madison Metropolitan School District, which helped so many students graduate from high school, attend college, and pursue successful careers. Mike never gave up on our children, and for that we are forever grateful.
Michael was also passionate about preserving and celebrating Black history. He produced inspiring Black History Month programming and was instrumental in securing support for the commissioning of the Vel Phillips statue on the Wisconsin State Capitol grounds—the first state capitol statue in the nation honoring a Black woman.
His leadership and service were widely recognized. In 2012, he received the Distinguished Community Service Award during the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Central Regional Conference held in Madison, which brought together more than 1,500 women from across the Midwest.
On a personal note, I will always be grateful for Michael’s support in honoring Wisconsin’s first Black elected mayor. Through his vision and determination, the Fitchburg City Council Chambers was named in my honor, and he helped establish a scholarship fund at the Madison Community Foundation to support deserving high school students. Those acts of recognition and generosity reflect the lasting impact Michael made on so many lives.
My heartfelt condolences go out to Michael’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives were enriched by his leadership, kindness, and unwavering commitment to our community.
The best way we can honor Michael is to continue his work—putting our youth, our communities, and our shared future front and center. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
• Hon.Frances Huntley-Cooper, Former Fitchburg Mayor and Friend
The Bible says in James 4:14 that our lives are “a vapor,” here for a little while and then gone. Life is much like a tree planted by someone who may never fully enjoy its shade. Years later, others sit beneath its branches, protected from the heat and strengthened by its presence. Michael spent his life planting trees whose shade he may never fully see. Generations of young people and families will continue to benefit from the seeds he planted.
As Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, I am grateful for Michael’s commitment to Dane County and his unwavering belief in the potential of our young people. He was a bridge-builder, a community champion, and a servant leader whose work transcended organizational walls.
Although I did not have the opportunity to work closely with Michael Johnson, I deeply admired his work from afar. His commitment to children, families, and our community was evident in everything he touched. Michael understood that leadership is not measured by what you accomplish for yourself, but by what you do for others. Whether advocating for young people, supporting families in crisis, bringing together resources to meet community needs, or the Christmas giveaways, he consistently showed up when it mattered most.
While we grieve his passing, we also celebrate a life well lived. Michael’s legacy will continue to live on in every young person who discovered hope because he believed in them, every family that found support through his work, and every community leader who was inspired by his example of service, compassion, and commitment. Though his voice has been silenced, the impact of his life continues to speak.
As we mourn the loss of Michael Johnson, we take comfort in the promise of Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” In moments like these, when words seem inadequate and grief feels overwhelming, we are reminded that God draws especially close to those who are hurting. We pray that the Lord’s presence will strengthen Michael’s family, comfort his friends, and sustain all. While we grieve his absence, we give thanks for his life, his service, and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.
• Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen Senior Pastor, Mt. Zion Baptist Church
