Read About Jen as a Guest Blogger for  Lee & Low  The Open Book Blog

Meet Jen

​Jen Cullerton Johnson lives and writes 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 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.

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