Meet  Jen

​Jen Cullerton Johnson lives, writes and teaches in Chicago. She is the author of several published books, essays, and short stories for children and adults. She has been awarded grants and fellowships for her writing and speaking.

In the mid-2000s, with Dr. Mary K. Gove, she co-founded Green Literacy, a framework that aligns educational institutions with lifelong ecological stewardship and transforms young people's relationships with the environment by empowering them to become environmental leaders through reading and writing and acting in sustainable ways.

​Educated at the University of New Orleans (MFA), Loyola University of Chicago (MEd) and Indiana University (BA), Jen has taught around the globe from children in Ecuador to adult farmers in Japan to communities in Los Angeles and Chicago. She is one of the creators of the Karma Garden, a collaborative community garden that serves temporarily detained incarcerated youth in Cook County. A proud Chicago Teacher's Union member, change catalyst, Jen believes that Creativity is Your Right!
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In 2020, in response to the lack of accessible, high-quality, diverse children's books found in waiting rooms of family courts, judges chambers, and attorney offices, Jen and the Board of Directors established the not-for-profit Books on Benches NP.

If you are interested in Jen coming to your school, speaking at your event, or editing your manuscript, please contact her at jencullertojohnson@gmail.com
Click on the icons below to learn more about the organizations Jen is honored to work .
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