MADISON, WI- Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County President and CEO Michael Johnson has passed away. Today, Representative Shelia Stubbs released the following statement:
 
“It is with great sadness that I mourn the passing of President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County Michael Johnson, who was not only a revered nonprofit and community leader, but who was also my close personal friend. My heart and my prayers are with Mr. Johnson’s family, friends, loved ones, and community in our shared time of grief.
 
I have known President and CEO Michael Johnson since he was first hired to lead the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, an organization that he would, through hard work, steadfast advocacy, and thoughtful innovation, profoundly transform. Mr. Johnson’s early efforts to renovate the Boys & Girls’ Clubs’ Taft Street location in South Madison, enhance academic programming, and form lasting partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and schools exemplified what it means to serve and uplift a community. Under his leadership and guidance, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County saw historic investments in its programs, an expansion into Sun Prairie, a merger with the Boys & Girls Club of Walworth County, the development of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, and countless other milestones. His ingenuity and determination grew the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County into a powerful catalyst for youth success.
 
For 17 years, Mr. Johnson and I worked together to envision a Dane County and State of Wisconsin where every child has the ability to thrive and reach their full potential. Through expanding resources for families, increasing opportunities for youth, and supporting economic mobility and development, we collaboratively shaped a brighter future for the children of South Madison and beyond. From the very beginning, Mr. Johnson was an enthusiastic champion for children, youth, and families. His unfaltering optimism and tenacity ensured that every initiative, no matter how ambitious, achieved resounding success.
 
As a Wisconsin State Representative, I had the opportunity to continue working with President and CEO Johnson to support Wisconsin’s youth. After Mr. George Floyd was killed, during an incredibly difficult time in our country, Mr. Johnson and I sat down with student protestors to talk about the need for equity and representation in our state. This conversation led to the creation of the Vel Phillips Statue Task Force, whose mission was to erect a sculpture of Mrs. Vel Phillips, the first African American and the first woman to be elected Secretary of State, on our State Capitol grounds. As the only legislator serving on the Task Force, it was my responsibility to request bipartisan support for the creation and installation of the sculpture, while President and CEO Johnson began a $700,000 campaign to finance the project. On July 27, 2024, the statue was officially unveiled, immortalizing Mrs. Vel Phillips at the Wisconsin State Capitol and demonstrating to young people across our state that their history matters.
 
Through my time in the Assembly, I have continuously advocated for state funding to sustain the Boys & Girls Clubs’ life-changing programming and acknowledged their role in supporting area youth. On April 18, 2023, I recognized Mr. Johnson as my Hometown Hero in the Wisconsin State Assembly for his enduring commitment to investing in young people’s education and career readiness and combatting family and child poverty. In December 2023, President and CEO Johnson presented me with the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County Champion for Children Award, and this past February, in recognition of my efforts both on the county and state levels to support Wisconsin children, he presented me with a Boys & Girls Clubs of America Lifetime Membership.
 
President and CEO Michael Johnson will be eternally remembered for his caring heart, immense generosity, and passion for empowering kids. He touched countless lives, fundamentally shaping them for the better. It was a privilege to know Mr. Johnson, and it was an even greater privilege to be his friend. Mr. Johnson’s loss will continue to be felt deeply in this community for years to come.”