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About the Leader
Lecester Johnson is the CEO of Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School in Washington, DC, and a champion of systems change dedicated to advancing economic mobility for Black and Brown communities. Since 2006, Lecester has led the transformation of Academy of Hope from a grassroots adult literacy program into a thriving public charter school serving more than 1,000 adult learners each year. In 2020, she launched the AoH Foundation to support geographic expansion, graduate services, research, and teacher training.
About the Work
The Academy of Hope Foundation (AoH Foundation) is tasked with advancing education initiatives, expanding partnerships, and ensuring that the promise of lifelong learning reaches every adult. Through seeding national adult-serving schools, comprehensive post-graduate support programs, and systems and policy change efforts, the AoH Foundation is fundamentally changing the traditional education landscape to better serve Black and brown communities and close the racial wealth gap.
THE 1954 PROJECT
Investing in Durable Leadership & Institutions
The 1954 Project identifies visionary education leaders whose work is strengthening Black communities and invests in them and what they are building with significant, flexible capital and long-term relationship.
Named for the year of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, The 1954 Project honors that promise by backing leaders closest to the work with resources that follow their vision.
This is philanthropy shaped by trust in leaders and commitment to what they’re building.
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