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Humble Beginnings
 Eric “EJ” Johnson was born on October 10, 1975 in Dallas, Texas. He attended first grade at C.F. Carr Elementary School in District 100. In the second grade, he was selected to participate in the Independent Schools Project, a partnership between the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and several of the top private schools in Dallas. For the next eleven years, Eric rode a van from the West Dallas Boys and Girls Club to attend Greenhill School, from which he graduated in 1994. He went on to attend Harvard University, where he majored in History and graduated cum laude.
After graduating from Harvard in 1998, Eric returned to Dallas and accepted a position as Legislative Assistant to State Representative Yvonne Davis (D-Dallas) in Austin, Texas. Eric then earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Affairs with a focus on education policy and international affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. In 2003, he returned to Dallas and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas. After two years with McCall, Parkhurst & Horton LLP, he joined Haynes and Boone, LLP as an associate in the finance group. Eric left Haynes and Boone, LLP in 2007 to form The Law Office of Eric L. Johnson in order to dedicate more time to community service. Since starting his own firm, Eric has dedicated approximately 50% of his time to volunteering in the community.
Dedication to the Community
Eric is an active volunteer with the Dallas Independent School District. His passion for working in our public schools comes from his own experience with what education can do to change a person's life. Eric is currently working to implement West Dallas C.A.M.P. (Community Ambassador Mentoring Program), a partnership between C.F. Carr Elementary School, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and People Empowerment Project that will provide fourth grade students with one-on-one and group mentoring for success both in and out of the classroom. He served as a mentor at Lincoln High School in South Dallas for two years and is a frequent speaker at career days, academic pep rallies, and assemblies at DISD schools throughout District 100.
In addition to his volunteer work in DISD schools, Eric has served on the boards of several important organizations in the Dallas community. Eric was a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas (the first Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dallas alumnus to ever do so), where he formed an alumni organization for local Boys & Girls Club alumni to support current Boys & Girls Club members, and the Board of Directors of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in South Dallas. Eric currently serves on the boards of Educational Opportunities, Inc., an organization that provides scholarships to academically talented but economically disadvantaged DISD students, the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, which is responsible for operating "The Bridge" (the City of Dallas' homeless assistance center), and the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
Eric was selected to participate in the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Dallas program in 2006, where he learned about the many complex issues facing Dallas and the North Texas region. He was named one of the “Five Outstanding Young Dallasites” by the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce in 2007 and was named one of Dallas’ “40 Under 40” by the Dallas Furniture Bank in 2009.
 A Lifelong Democrat
Eric is a lifelong Democrat and has been active in the Democratic Party for several years. He has served as a Democratic precinct chair and has also been a financial supporter of the Dallas County Democratic Party, Dallas County Young Democrats, Texas Democratic Party, and Democratic National Committee. He and his wife, Nakita, launched Sí Se Puede PAC in March 2008 in order to support progressive candidates and causes throughout Texas. Eric served as an at-large delegate for President Barack Obama to the 2008 Texas Democratic State Convention in Austin, Texas and also served as an Obama Precinct Captain during the 2008 Democratic primary election contest.
 Personal
Eric is married to Nakita Johnson. They are members of the Lawrence and Marder Church of Christ in South Dallas. In his free time, Eric enjoys reading, sports, and spending time with Nakita and their dog, Nina.
Current Memberships and Affiliations |
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State Bar of Texas |
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United States District Court, Northern District of Texas |
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Dallas Bar Association |
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J. L. Turner Legal Association |
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Educational Opportunities, Inc., Board of Directors (Former Board Secretary) |
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Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, Board of Directors (Public Policy Committee and Nominating Committee) |
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Dallas County Democratic Party, Sustaining Member |
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Dallas County Young Democrats, Sustaining Member |
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Texas Democratic Party, Majority Builder |
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Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Dallas Alumni Chapter |
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Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce |
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West Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors |
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Westmoreland Heights Community Center, Volunteer |
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TheDallasAssembly |
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Progressive Voters League – New Era |
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Si Se Puede Political Action Committee, Co-Founder and President |
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NAACP, Dallas Chapter |
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Harvard Club of Dallas (Former Vice President of Programs) |
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Greenhill School Alumni Association |
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas Alumni Association (Founder and Former Chairman) |
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Christian Transformation Forum – West Dallas, Volunteer (Economic Development and Legal Committees) |
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Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Dallas Chapter |
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Past Memberships and Affiliations |
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Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Board of Directors and 2009 MLK Birthday Celebration Steering Committee Chairperson |
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Dallas Independent School District Youth Mentoring Initiative, Mentor (Lincoln High School) |
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Leadership Dallas, Class of 2006 |
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Board of Directors |
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Dallas County Historical Commission, Member and Founder/Chairperson of the Historical Marker Diversity Committee, 2005-2007 |
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Democratic Precinct Chair, Precinct 3210 |
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At-Large Delegate for President Barack Obama, 2008 Texas Democratic Party State Convention and Obama Precinct Captain |
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