Ben Johnson, Jr.

Ben is the Assistant Director of Recreation for Louisville Parks and Recreation. This is his second stint with Metro Government (almost fifteen years combined) having served previously as the Assistant Director for the Office of Youth Development. A native Philadelphian, Ben has been active in youth development in Louisville for over thirty years after graduating from Florida A&M University. Though his passion has always been youth, he has recently been drawn to work focusing on Black Males.

Away from work Ben serves as the KY Chapter President of the Florida A&M Alumni Association and President of the Education First Foundation Board. Education First puts on the Showcase of HBCU, the second largest college fair in Kentucky and the only one dedicated to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Ben enjoys all aspects of youth work, particularly with African American males having served as a coach, mentor, motivational speaker, teacher and volunteer with organizations as diverse as the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, Cities United, Lincoln Foundation, Louisville Urban League, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs and more. Ben loves to create new partnerships, especially those previously thought to be impossible and lives by the mantra “The answer is never just no.”