Karin and Joseph Johnson and their son Bradford. Photo: Duane Tinkey
Writer: Andrea Love
In 1994, Joseph Johnson was convicted of a federal financial crime. He served six months in prison, leaving his wife and four kids at home, reeling from the shock of his crimes.
Prison changed him. He met and formed deep friendships with former drug dealers and thieves. He worked alongside them as they all tried to heal from their past and grow from their mistakes. He was a changed man when he re-entered the world, determined to live an honest life.
But the whole experience left a deep and troubling emotional wound in his eldest son, Bradford. Later, he battled addiction and substance abuse for 14 years as a result of the trauma.
Now, both father and son credit their experiences, and the pain and healing that followed, for driving their mission to help some of the community’s most vulnerable people.
In 2022, Joseph and his wife, Karin, founded Change Course, a local nonprofit inspired by his vision to create equitable and inclusive opportunities for former inmates and others who struggle with addiction, generational poverty and other challenges. The organization offers free career training and skills coaching for anyone who wants to overcome the barriers in their lives.
“The only rule is that you’re ready to start over,” said Bradford, now Change Course’s director of communications. He said participants are referred to as “leaders” because they’re the ones in charge of improving their lives.
Being the change
“Inclusion is showing up with zero expectations for the other person,” Bradford said. At Change Course, he and his parents have fostered an inclusive culture that surrounds the program leaders with acceptance and love to help them build a sustainable life for themselves and their families. Compassion, Bradford said, is what truly encourages their growth.
Bradford himself has been sober for four years now and has learned through his own recovery that having two parents who deeply love him is not a privilege everyone has. It was his parents’ insistence that he enter inpatient rehabilitation, and his own decision to listen, that saved his life.
Rehab taught him how to love himself and forgive his father, and only then was he able to truly recover. Now he helps Change Course leaders the same way, by giving those who may not have a lot of support a chance to feel seen, cared about and worthy of growth.
Each year, Change Course welcomes classes of 20-50 participants. They receive a stipend for transportation and other necessities that increase the likelihood of their success. Leaders are expected to consistently show up, pass drug tests and stay respectful and engaged. In exchange, they can learn marketable skills in medical administration, customer service, information technology and other careers.
The organization partners with several metro nonprofits and commercial businesses to provide support, mentorship and job opportunities for graduating leaders. Through these opportunities, with support from donors and volunteers, Change Course strengthens the community one person at a time.
Bradford put it this way: “If we really spend a lot of quality effort on one person’s life and walk with them every single step of the way, offering ourselves as a resource to them, who knows what exponential effect that one person could have on the rest of the community.”
Find more information, resources and program applications at change-course.org.
Show Comments (0)