Story Circles with Denise Griffin Johnson

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025
2PM-4PM

Baltimore Cultural Organizer and National Cultural Agent, Denise Griffin Johnson, introduces audience members to her distinctive style of participatory storytelling, leading participants in a meaningful story-sharing circle event grounded in best practices for community-building communication and inspired by the themes of the Pedagogy Study Hall exhibition.

This program is free, but registration is recommended to reserve your seat at this link.

Denise Griffin Johnson is a Baltimore native and a leader in cultural organizing. She co-founded CultureWorks in 2008, spearheading a major community-led initiative in West Baltimore. As a National Cultural Agent with USDAC, she has led national and regional discussions on justice, belonging, and storytelling. She has collaborated with UMBC and Lafayette College on cultural and economic initiatives and has helped secure over $4 million for West Baltimore's cultural projects. Denise holds a Master of Science from Coppin State University with postgraduate training in Clinical Counseling. She has co-authored academic publications and contributed to major media discussions on community transformation.

This program is presented in connection with "Pedagogy Study Hall," a research project, exhibition, and publication by Tomashi Jackson and Nia K. Evans exploring the structures that sustain our cultural and educational systems.

This program is sponsored by the Wagner Foundation, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Baltimore County Commission on the Arts and Sciences and the Citizens of Baltimore County, and the Arts+ initiative at UMBC.

CADVC exhibitions and events are free and open to the public for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Find more information is at cadvc.umbc.edu.

Visitor Information

The CADVC is located on the first floor of UMBC's Fine Arts Building. Admission to the gallery and public programs is free as is nearby visitor parking in Lot 8 on weekends. Please visit this link for additional information.

Links to directions, parking, and maps may be found at cadvc.umbc.edu/visit-us.

Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture, UMBC
1000 Hilltop Circle, Fine Arts Building 105, Baltimore, MD 21250

Gallery Hours:
Sun-Mon, closed
Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm

cadvc@umbc.edu | (410) 455-3188