Catherine Johnson, Director of the Guilford County Family Justice Center (FJC), has accepted the role of President and Chief Executive Officer with the Alliance for HOPE International, a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence through advocacy. Her last day with Guilford County is Friday, Sept. 5.
The FJC is a multi-agency public safety initiative designed to bring professionals together under one roof to provide coordinated, collaborative services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child maltreatment, stalking, and elder abuse. Johnson, the FJC’s first director, built the department and support team from the ground up. Under her leadership, the FJC has served over 100,000 individuals since opening in June 2015, expanding to include two locations in Greensboro and High Point. Guilford County has received local and national recognition for the FJC’s successful collaborative efforts.
“There are no words to fully describe the tremendous impact Catherine has made in Guilford County and beyond on behalf of victims and survivors,” said Victor Isler, Guilford County Manager. “Catherine has grown the Family Justice Center into the powerhouse agency it is today, providing thoughtful and careful leadership at every turn. While we will miss her stewardship within the organization, we know she will continue to fight for those whose voices would be stifled. This opportunity with the Alliance for HOPE International is one that she could not let pass, and we wish her all the best in her new role.”
“It has been the greatest honor of my career to serve the residents of Guilford County and to build and lead the Family Justice Center’s extraordinary team and partners in providing safety, support, and hope to survivors,” said Johnson. “I have learned so much over the last eleven years and look forward to continuing my advocacy in this transformative leadership opportunity with the Alliance for HOPE International. I am incredibly grateful for Victor’s outstanding leadership and for the unwavering support from him and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners that has allowed our Family Justice Center to become a nationally recognized model. I am proud of all we have accomplished together, including the agency’s 10th anniversary celebration this year. I am fully confident that the FJC will continue to grow and serve as a beacon of hope for years to come.”
Johnson, with more than 18 years of experience working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida State University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina.
Her honors and recognitions include the Outstanding Practitioner of the Year Award from the North Carolina Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Early Career Award from UNCG’s School of Education, the Outstanding Women in Business Award from the Triad Business Journal, and a 2023 Dogwood Award from the North Carolina Attorney General.
Alliance for HOPE International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing innovative, trauma-informed, and hope-centered strategies to address the complex needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Through comprehensive professional training, expert-led research, civil and legal advocacy, and the establishment of collaborative multidisciplinary frameworks, Alliance for HOPE International equips service providers, law enforcement agencies, and communities with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance responses that ensure safety, support healing, and uphold the rights of survivors.