National Park College’s (NPC) Cultural Diversity Awareness Club (CDAC) welcomed Dr. Carol Johnson, Executive Director of the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission (AFHC) Wednesday in celebration of Black History Month. Dr. Johnson presented Opportunity Knocks…Will You Answer as part of the We Belong Guest Speaker Series.
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Dr. Johnson spoke about the importance of “oneness” in this new era of civil rights.
She shared her personal struggle of stepping out of her comfort zone to fulfill her
overwhelming desire to speak for the underprivileged and disenfranchised. Her mantra,
“I am you and you are me” was repeated throughout her speech as she explained, “You
and I are not so different.”
She explained that opportunity abounds in excess all around us. “Opportunity is all
of ours by right,” she noted. “Opportunity is yours, mine, ours,” said Dr. Johnson
as she encouraged attendees to engage in candid dialogue about the disparities many
face. In closing, Dr. Johnson said, “Our work is not completed.” She challenged the
group to work to create opportunities for those around them who need it. Pictured
is Dr. Johnson during her presentation in the NPC Lab Sciences auditorium.
According to her AFHC bio, Dr. Johnson is an active social justice advocate. She holds
a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas;
a Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and a Juris
Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.
Dr. Johnson is a licensed attorney with experience in various areas of administrative,
civil and criminal law. She held a clerkship with the Arkansas Attorney General’s
Office and served as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Garland County, Arkansas.
During her career at AFHC, Dr. Johnson has been an advocate for fair housing and fair
lending, as well as open housing access to protect both the public interest and the
needs of the housing industry.
Pictured is: Dr. Carol Johnson, Executive Director of the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission
(center) with National Park College Cultural Diversity Awareness Club officers Cory
Morris, vice president (left) and Melissa Krafft, president (right).
