FIS Welcomes Ashley Johnson as Director of Training and Capacity Building

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is with great joy that we share that Ashley Johnson has joined Families In Schools as our new Director of Training and Capacity Building! Ashley brings over two decades of experience in community-building initiatives focused on education and transformative justice.

As the Director of Training and Capacity Building, Ashley will lead our efforts to deliver capacity-building services for schools, districts, and community agencies, with an emphasis on best practices for family engagement. They will oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of our projects to strengthen our impact across California. In this role, Ashley will collaborate closely with statewide leaders as a lead agent in the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI), among many other local partnerships.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have Ashley on board! They bring with them a community-centered approach that’s executed with creativity, care, and liberation,” said Azucena Hernandez, Executive Vice President of Families In Schools. “At a time when unity is as critical as ever, Ashley’s collaborative approach gives me confidence that we will innovate and uphold racial equity and justice as core principles in our work to create brighter futures for students and families.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Ashley to the Families In Schools team,” said Yolie Flores, CEO of Families In Schools. “Their extensive experience in driving positive change, coupled with a deep commitment to family engagement, will be an important asset to our mission. With Ashley’s leadership, we are poised to strengthen our collective efforts to build lasting educational opportunities for all.”

Please join us in warmly welcoming Ashley to the FIS team!

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson is a Black queer New Yorker, proud bonus parent, and lifelong hopeful Knicks fan who brings an intentional approach to racial equity, justice, and organizational healing. As a racial equity trainer and transformative justice practitioner, Ashley helps organizations and communities embrace values that heal complex trauma and foster sustainable change. They blend creativity, care, and a deep commitment to ancestral healing technologies to cultivate environments where community is a verb and collective liberation is actionable.

With over 20 years of experience in community organizing, placemaking strategies, curriculum development, and leadership coaching, Ashley is skilled at facilitating groups of 5 to 100, creating online and in-person trainings, and designing interactive, play-centered learning environments. Their work includes contributions to organizations like Race Forward and the Center for Justice Innovation.

Ashley emphasizes adaptive leadership, cultural congruence, and values-based decision-making to inspire lasting change within individuals and organizations. They design and lead programs focused on racial equity, democratic engagement, and transformative justice, supporting teams in becoming high-performing learning communities.

In addition to their role as Director of Training and Capacity Building, Ashley is a reiki practitioner and healing justice facilitator. They serve on the founding board of the Center for Mental Health and Wellness in Compton, California, and remain dedicated to reimagining safer, healthier communities where activism, leadership, and connection thrive.