The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)—a national Black LGBTQ+/same-gender loving (SGL)-rights organization, announced Dr. David J. Johns as its new chief executive officer, effective Jan. 2, 2024.
Johns, who will also continue as executive director, will succeed outgoing CEO and Board Chair Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, who has served and led the organization since 2009.
"Dr. Johns is the right leader at the right time under today's conditions in America. He is bold, tenacious, and unrelenting in advocating for causes of racial justice, inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights," said Lettman-Hicks in a press release. "After recruiting him to serve as my successor as the executive director in 2017, I have had the privilege of watching him grow into a magnanimous and fierce leader among leaders. He understands the role and excels at every level of leadership. He will seamlessly step into the CEO role as he continues to serve as the executive director."
Lettman-Hicks was the executive director/CEO from 2009 to 2017, and became CEO/board chair in 2017.
Metro Weekly noted that, in 2023, U.S. District Court Judge Allen Winsor, of the Northern District of Florida, dismissed fraud-related charges against former Tallahassee Mayor and Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum and Lettman-Hicks, a longtime associate. Prosecutors had alleged that Gillum and Lettman-Hicks launched a scheme to solicit campaign donations in exchange for political favors while skirting campaign-finance laws.
Also, Johns announced a new board of directors as part of the transition. Letterman-Hicks and attorney/board member Kyler Broadus will depart. However, attorney Ben Crump will return, and there will be four new board members: Manassas Park (VA) Councilman Darryl Moore, Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, Dr. Lauren Mims and The Blueprint Strategy Group founder/president Courtney Snowden.
