[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. MICHAEL JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK POCAN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2026

  Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and service of 
Mr. Michael Johnson, who passed away unexpectedly this year.
  Michael Johnson was a member of the Dane County community for many 
years and spent his life dedicated to improving equality and higher 
educational prospects for young people in his city and state at large.
  Michael grew up in Chicago, honoring the Boys & Girls Clubs of his 
youth for providing him with a safe space and opportunities to grow 
beyond his neighborhood. After his graduation from Cornell University, 
Michael climbed the ranks of many non-profits in the Midwest before 
settling in Madison where he spent 17 years working tirelessly to close 
youth opportunity gaps in education and the skilled trades.
  In his role as President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane 
County, Michael endeavored to raise over 50 million dollars for 
projects such as the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, a hands-on 
skilled trades training and career center, and was a key leader in the 
largest public-private partnership in the history of the Madison 
Metropolitan School District.
  Michael played a profound role in the development of the Boys & Girls 
Clubs of Dane County, quadrupling the number of students and families 
served in the area--his aspirations were never small, nor did they 
relent at the walls of his organization. Colleagues and friends of 
Michael recognized how his vision and generosity for the state extended 
beyond closing the education gaps and providing opportunities for 
students to pursue higher education. In 2020, following the murder of 
George Floyd, Michael talked extensively with youth protestors in 
downtown Madison and campaigned for the construction of a statue of Vel 
Philips, the first woman and African American elected to a statewide 
office to be erected on the grounds of the Capitol, where it stands 
today. He was a passionate advocate of challenging assumptions and the 
need for equity and representation in the state.
  Michael was a Champion for Children, honored in his life with the 
Boys & Girls Clubs Heart and Soul Award, the highest recognition of 
local executives in the organization, as well as the Hometown Hero 
award in the Wisconsin State Assembly for his courage and conviction in 
pursuit of a more equitable world.
  He is survived by his wife, Toya, and three children. Michael will be 
dearly missed by the Dane County and greater Wisconsin communities for 
his extraordinary leadership, integrity, and deep commitment to his 
important work.

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