We all deserve spaces that reflect, support, challenge, affirm, and celebrate who we are and all we are capable of becoming.
- Quo Johnson
“A talented and gifted speaker, practitioner, and healer, Quo is a true leader in the field. As the Opera industry continues to redefine itself in the 21st century, Quo is the guiding light we all should have at the helm of our ships.”
- Afton Battle, BGM Consulting
Strengthening shared belonging in organizations and communities through transformational, human-centered experiences.
Connect.
Heal.
Shift.
Quo Johnson serves with a mission to connect, heal, and shift organizational cultures and relationships. Join the Connect. Heal. Shift. Community™ and engage in transformational, human-centered approaches to getting the work done.
Engagements, News, & Articles
#EquityWithQuo #HealingWithQuo
Racial Justice Opera Forum 2025: Hello, Star Webinar
OPERA America | October 8, 2025 | Online
Join OPERA America’s Racial Justice Opera Network for a conversation on the artistic process of creating a new work and the collaboration between creators and producers. The webinar spotlights Hello, Star, a forthcoming opera by composer Carla Lucero and librettist Jarrod Lee, adapted from the picture book by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic with illustrations by Vashti Harrison. The piece honors the contributions of Black women in science through the heartfelt journey of a young girl who heeds the call of a dying star. Creatives Lucianovic, Lucero, and Lee will be joined by artistic directors Nicole Paiement (Opera Parallèle) and Mary Duncan Steidl (Peabody Opera) to discuss the creative path of bringing Hello, Star to the stage. This discussion will be moderated by OPERA America social justice advisor Quodesia “Quo” Johnson.
Racial Justice Opera Forum 2025: Racial Justice in the Artistic Process
OPERA America | October 22, 2025 | Online
Building on the Hello, Star Webinar, participants of the Racial Justice Opera Forum will discuss the importance of racial justice in the artistic process, sharing tools and practices for a more racially just opera field. OPERA America social justice advisor Quodesia D. Johnson will facilitate an open discussion designed to support connection, creativity, and strategic action in the artistic process. All are welcome through a shared commitment to the Racial Justice Opera Forum Group Agreements.
Quo’s Writing
Piano Magazine | Spring 2025 Issue: “Wellness & Belonging”
HowlRound Theatre Commons | March 2025: “Racial Healing at the Center”
The Fulcrum | August 2024: “This is How You Create a Courageous Workplace”
Medium | February 2024: “A Letter to Black People in Opera”
Visible Magazine | January 2024: “Why Racial Healing Is A Must For Everyone”
Medium | January 2024: “What New Orleans Opera’s Announcement Represents and Why the Field is Responding”
New Thinking Magazine | July 2023: “Equity: A Journey Through Time and Space”
“Uncommitting to Change” Article Feature
Van Magazine | June 2025
Quodesia “Quo” Johnson speaks with brin solomon about the state of her work amongst a backlash against DEI.
The OpEd Project | Public Voices Fellow
Quodesia D. Johnson is one of 20 Dallas-based thought leaders who will participate in the 2023 Cohort of the Dallas Public Voices Fellowship. The intensive three-month fellowship will provide twenty of the city’s most promising women thought leaders with extraordinary support, journalist coaches, leadership skills, and knowledge to ensure their ideas shape their fields and the greater public conversations of our age.
The OpEd Project’s Public Voices Fellowship is part of a prestigious national initiative to change who writes history. Partners include Yale, Dartmouth, Northwestern, The Ford Foundation, and more.
Projects & Collaborations
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Black Administrators of Opera
Quo is the founder and space moderator of the Black Administrators of Opera, a powerful community dedicated to the professional development, healing, advocacy, advancement, and collaboration of opera administrators who identify as members of the African diaspora working toward greater equity in the opera field.
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Racial Justice Opera Forum
Quo made history as the designer, curator, and facilitator of the nation’s first Racial Justice Opera Forum in 2022. Join the opera community online for the third, annual RJON Forum welcomes participants for intentional days of learning, healing, community, and action toward a more racially just opera field.
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TDO Connections™
Explore the richness of opera and its many reflections of humanity through TDO Connections™ - The Dallas Opera’s intentional process of learning and engaging audiences through human-centered, operatic storytelling designed by equity specialist and healing practitioner, Quodesia D. Johnson.
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Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation
Quo serves as a racial equity coach and healing practitioner for Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, guiding Dallas-based organizations seeking to collectively create a more radically inclusive Dallas. Organizations include Broadway Dallas, Union Coffee, and Big Thought.
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Taking the Stage with Kristian and Quo™
Quo took the opera world on a journey like none before as the creator, content curator, and co-host of Taking the Stage with Kristian and Quo™ - providing opportunities to dig deep through conversations at the intersections of equity, inclusion, the arts, business, health, justice, and more.
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EDI & SEL Arts Integration
Quo serves as the EDI & SEL consultant for Junior Players. She combines her EDI specialist, facilitator, healing practitioner, and artist skills to develop curricula and experiences that support young minds in becoming courageous, confident, and collaborative individuals.
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Opera Conference
Building upon an unforgettable opening and closing of the 2022 OPERA Conference, Quo Johnson continues serving as the OPERA America social justice advisor, panelist, healing practitioner, and moderator for the OPERA America Conference.
