Carolyn Johnson, CEO of Black Cultural Zone, buys vacant East Oakland lot for $10

Supporters of the sale said it will bring much-needed housing and economic growth to a neglected block. Credit: Natalie Orenstein/The Oaklandside

Carolyn Johnson, a member of LeaderSpring Center’s Class of 2022 Women of Color LeadStrong Fellowship, continues to demonstrate the power of community-rooted leadership through her work with the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation.

As CEO, Carolyn is helping transform long-neglected spaces into opportunities for community investment, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment in East Oakland. Most recently, the Black Cultural Zone acquired a long-vacant, tax-defaulted property on MacArthur Boulevard from Alameda County for $10—a significant step toward realizing a larger vision for the site and the surrounding community.

The organization is exploring affordable housing and other community-serving uses for the property, creating an opportunity to transform an overlooked asset into a resource for East Oakland residents. For Carolyn, this work reflects a deeper commitment to ensuring that Black communities have the resources, spaces, and opportunities to shape their own futures.

Her leadership is a powerful example of what it means to build change from within community. Through her work, Carolyn continues to connect economic development, culture, and community power—helping reimagine what is possible for East Oakland and the people who call it home.

We celebrate Carolyn for her continued leadership and impact, and for embodying the vision of Women of Color LeadStrong: investing in leaders who are creating more just, equitable, and thriving communities.

Learn more about Black Cultural Zone: https://www.blackculturalzone.org/