Upcoming Engagements
#EquityWithQuo #HealingWithQuo
Racial Justice Opera Forum 2025: Championing Racial Justice Webinar
OPERA America | December 11, 2025 | Online
Join the Racial Justice Opera Network to explore how opera companies, board members, artists, and audiences can champion racial justice amid current legal and social expectations. Through this discussion, participants will learn of best practices from Democracy Forward Senior Advisor Sunu Chandy, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis General Director Andrew Jorgensen, Cincinnati Opera Director of Community Engagement and Special Projects Advisor Tracy L. Wilson, and OPERA America Social Justice Advisor Quodesia Johnson to support their programmatic, leadership, and company culture efforts in racial and social justice.
Arts Administrator Community Circle: Making Bold Decisions in the Arts
The Dallas Opera | December 13, 2025 | 11 am - 1 pm CT | Online
Presenting art is courageous work requiring consistent effort and constant decision-making. The Dallas Opera presents an online healing and dialogue circle for arts administrators to explore the decision-making process and support the bold decisions of the visual and performing arts industry. Join Dallas-based, healing practitioners Stefanie Tovar (Healing Arts with Stefanie Tovar) and Quodesia D. Johnson (Quo Johnson Co Project, LLC) in this offering of mindfulness, celebration, and restoration.
This online event is for all administrators in the arts field of all levels and experiences. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably as there will be some movement. Bring water for hydration and plan to engage the entire time with cameras on for most of the offering.
Racial Justice Opera Forum 2025: Championing Racial Justice Network Discussion
OPERA America | December 17, 2025 | Online
Building on the Championing Racial Justice Webinar, participants of the Racial Justice Opera Forum will discuss their experiences with navigating racial justice work in opera. OPERA America social justice advisor Quodesia D. Johnson will facilitate an open discussion designed to support connection, creativity, and strategic action for continued efforts in programming, company culture, and company leadership. All are welcome through a shared commitment to the Racial Justice Opera Forum Group Agreements.
Previous Engagements/CV & Impact
Quodesia “Quo” Johnson engages organizations of local, national, and international impact in the arts, culture, business, education, social justice, and faith-based sectors.
Speaker & Moderator Engagements
National Community Organizing
OPERA America | 2025 Racial Justice Opera Network Forum | Online | October 2025 - December 2025
2025 Black Administrators of Opera Symposium | Chicago, IL | June 11 - 14, 2025
2024 Black Administrators of Opera Symposium | Seattle, WA | August 1 - 3, 2024
OPERA America | 2024 Racial Justice Opera Network Forum | Online | March 5 - 7, 2024
2023 Black Administrators of Opera Symposium | New Orleans, LA | June 14 - 17, 2023
OPERA America | 2023 Racial Justice Opera Network Forum | Online | March 7 - 9, 2023
2022 Black Administrators of Opera Inaugural Symposium | Pittsburgh, PA | April 28 - 30, 2022
OPERA America | Inaugural Racial Justice Opera Network Forum | Online | February 1 - 5, 2022
Speaker & Moderator Engagements
Taking the Stage with Kristian and Quo™ | Online, Creator, Curator, Speaker, Co-Host (2020 - 2022)
Opera America: Opera Conference 2025: Closing Session | Memphis, TN, Speaker (2025)
OPERA America: Opera Conference 2025: Combined Affinity Network Breakfast | Memphis, TN, Speaker (2025)
OPERA America: Opera Conference 2025: Combined Affinity Network Lunch | Memphis, TN, Speaker & Facilitator (2025)
OPERA America: Opera Conference 2025: Courageous Communication | Memphis, TN, Speaker & Facilitator (2025)
OPERA America: Opera Conference 2025: Protecting Company Values | Memphis, TN, Moderator (2025)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2025: Company Success Through Collective Wellness | Memphis, TN, Moderator (2025)
Bishop Arts Theatre Center | The Stamped Project Banned Books Festival: Postshow Talkback with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Dallas, TX, Moderator (2025)
Bishop Arts Theatre Center | The Stamped Project Banned Books Festival: Postshow Talkback | Dallas, TX, Moderator (2025)
OPERA America | New Works Forum: Clarifying Community Roles: Elevating Civic Practice in New Works Workshop & Panel Discussion | New York, NY, Facilitator & Moderator (2025)
The Dallas Opera | 2024/25 Hart Institute for Women Conductors: Recognizing Bias in Opera | Online, Moderator (2024)
The Dallas Opera | TDO Connections™: Making Musical Connections | Dallas, TX & Live Stream, C0-Moderator (2024)
Seattle Opera & Black Administrators of Opera | Community Gathering & Leontyne Price Stage Naming Dedication | Seattle, WA, Poet & Speaker (2024)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2024: Storytelling & Wellbeing | Los Angeles, CA, Presenter & Moderator (2024)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2024: Harmonizing Social Dissonance | Los Angeles, CA, Presenter & Moderator (2024)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2024: Combined Affinity Space | Los Angeles, CA, Presenter & Co-Moderator (2024)
OPERA America| Opera Conference 2024: Racial Justice Opera Network Workshops | Los Angeles, CA, Curator, Presenter (2023)
Bishop Arts Theatre Center | The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer Post-Show Talkbacks| Dallas, TX, Speaker & Facilitator (2024)
Bishop Arts Theatre Center | The Sum of Us: One-Act Festival Post-Show Talkbacks | Dallas, TX, Speaker & Facilitator (2024)
Houston Grand Opera | Let the Truth Be Told: Intelligence | Houston, TX, Moderator (2023)
The Dallas Opera | 2023/24 Hart Institute for Women Conductors: Dignity & Creativity With Robyn Short and Marta Torres | Online, Moderator (2023)
Dallas Symphony Orchestra & The Dallas Opera | 2023 Women in Classical Music Symposium & Hart Institute for Women Conductors: Conducting the Way - Exploring Career Paths for Conductors | Dallas, TX & Live Stream, Moderator (2023)
The Dallas Opera | 2023/24 TDO Connections™: The Brain and The Heart | Dallas, TX & Live Stream, Co-Moderator (2023)
OPERA America| Opera Conference 2023: Managing the Political Dynamics of Art | Pittsburgh, PA, Curator, Moderator (2023)
OPERA America| Opera Conference 2023: If Audiences Like It, Why Not? | Pittsburgh, PA, Curator, Moderator (2023)
OPERA America| Opera Conference 2023: Racial Justice Opera Network | Pittsburgh, PA, Curator, Presenter (2023)
The Dallas Opera | 2022/23 TDO Connections™: Women in Opera | Online, Curator, Moderator (2023)
Fort Worth Opera | Race. Equity. Arts. Symposium | Fort Worth, TX, Speaker (2023)
OPERA America | Race in Opera: Blackface, Yellowface, and Casting | Online, Speaker (2023)
HBCU Opera & Musical Theater Collective | 2nd Annual Virtual Forum | Online, Speaker (2023)
MASS Culture Canada | 2023 TRAIN Program: Never Walk Alone | Online, Speaker (2023)
Bishop Arts Theatre Center | The Fairview Post-Show Talkback | Dallas, TX, Speaker & Facilitator (2022)
New Orleans Opera | Can White People Write Black Opera? | Online, Moderator (2022)
The Dallas Opera | 2022/23 Hart Institute for Women Conductors: Women in Art and Leadership | Online, Curator, Moderator (2022)
The Dallas Opera | 2022/23 Hart Institute for Women Conductors: Cultivating an Opera Community | Online, Curator, Moderator (2022)
The Dallas Opera | 2022/23 TDO Connections™: Women in Leadership & Creativity | Dallas, TX & Live Stream, Co-Moderator (2022)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2022: Dismissing Reality for Art’s Sake: The Psychic Impact of Opera | Minneapolis, MN, Curator, Moderator (2022)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2022: Racial Justice in Action | Minneapolis, MN, Curator, Moderator, Speaker (2022)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2022: From Pipeline to Ecosystem: Case Studies in Developing Healthy Environments for Opera Professionals | Minneapolis, MN, Curator, Moderator, Speaker (2022)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2022 Opening & Closing Sessions | Minneapolis, MN, Speaker (2022)
The Dallas Opera | 2021/22 TDO Connections™: Exploring Representation in Opera | Online, Curator, Moderator (2022)
Opera Theatre of St. Louis | Belonging in Opera: Learning From Our Past, Engaging With Our Future | Online, Speaker (2021)
Cincinnati Opera | Diversity in Opera | Online, Speaker (2021)
Black Women in Opera | Race & Opera | Online, Speaker (2021)
Black Opera Alliance | Remembering Tulsa | Online, Speaker (2021)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2020: Making Change Panel Discussion | Online, Speaker (2020)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2020: Creating Real Belonging | Online, Speaker (2020)
OPERA America | OPERA Conference 2019: ALAANA Network | San Francisco, Speaker, Participant (2019)
OPERA America | OPERA Conference 2017: ALAANA Network | Dallas, TX, Speaker, Participant (2017)
Healing Offerings & Facilitations
Black Administrators of Opera | 2025 Annual Symposium Healing Circle | Chicago, IL (2025)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2025: National Civil Rights Museum Debrief & Healing Circle | Memphis, TN (2025)
OPERA America | Opera Conference 2025: Rest & Wellness Space Morning Mindfulness Activity | Memphis, TN (2025)
Detroit Opera | The Central Park Five Audience After Care Community Circles | Online (2025)
The Dallas Opera | 2024/25 TDO Connections™: Community Healing & Dialogue Circle | Dallas, TX (2025)
OPERA America | National Day of Racial Healing Racial Justice Opera Network Healing Circle | Online (2025)
OPERA America | OPERA America Grantee Creativity Workshop Opening & Closing | New York, NY (2025)
Arapaho United Methodist Church | Racial Healing Circle | Richardson, TX (2024)
Black Administrators of Opera | 2024 Annual Symposium Healing Circle | Seattle, WA (2024)
National Collaborative for Health Equity | National Convening Rx Racial Healing Circle™ | Washington D.C. (2024)
OPERA America | 2024 Opera Conference: Learning, Healing, and Dialogue Circle | Los Angeles, CA (2024)
OPERA America | 2024 Opera Conference: Racial Justice Opera Network Healing Circle | Los Angeles, CA (2024)
OPERA America | Inaugural Women’s Opera Network Healing Space: Support for Women in Opera | Online (2024)
OPERA America | Racial Justice Opera Forum Day of Healing | Online (2024)
Bishop Arts Theatre Center | 2024 Rx Racial Healing Circle™ Series | Dallas, TX (2024)
The Dallas Opera | 2023/24 TDO Connections™: Community Healing & Dialogue Circle | Dallas, TX (2024)
The Dallas Opera | 2023/24 TDO Connections™: Opera Administrator Healing & Dialogue Circle | Online (2023)
Texas Organizing Project | 2023 TOP Pilgrimage: Stronger Together | Montgomery & Selma, AL (2023)
Black Administrators of Opera | 2023 Annual Symposium Healing Circle | New Orleans, LA (2023)
OPERA America | Racial Justice Opera Forum Day of Healing | Online (2023)
Lyric Opera of Chicago | The Walkers Racial Healing & Artist Support | Chicago, IL (2023)
The Dallas Opera | 2022/23 TDO Connections™: Community Healing & Dialogue Circle | Dallas, TX (2023)
Urban Teachers | Rx Racial Healing Circle™ | Dallas, TX (2023)
Texas Organizing Project | Black TOP Racial Healing Circle Series | Online (2022)
Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation | Racial Equity NOW Cohort Rx Racial Healing Circle™ | Dallas, TX (2022)
Black Administrators of Opera | 2022 Inaugural Symposium Healing Circle | Pittsburgh, PA (2022)
OPERA America | Racial Justice Opera Forum Day of Healing | Online (2022)
Dallas Theater Center | BIPOC Racial Healing Circle | Online (2021)
Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance | Racial Healing Circle | Dallas, TX (2021)
Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation | Community Healing Circle: Mediation, Connection, & Release | Online (2021)
Global Philanthropists Circle - Synergos | 2020 International Rx Racial Healing Circle™ | Online (2020)
Workshops, Coaching, & Group Facilitation
City of Farmington Four Corners Musical Theatre Company | Belonging & Social Justice Discussion with Hairspray Cast | Online (2025)
Arapaho United Methodist Church | Creating Belonging: Identity & Neighborly Love | Richardson, TX (2025)
OPERA America | Ongoing Staff Equity Workshops Series | New York, NY & Online (2021 - present)
The Dallas Opera | Ongoing Staff Equity Workshop Series | Dallas, TX & Online (2019 - present)
Bishop Arts Theatre Center | Board of Directors Equity Workshop | Dallas, TX (2019 - present)
Junior Players | Student & Artist SEL/DEI Workshop Series & Staff Retreat | Dallas, TX & Online (2017 - present)
Pacific Opera Victoria | Trust & Dignity Workshop | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (2024)
Cedar Rapids Opera | Board of Directors & Staff Equity Learning Workshop Series | Cedar Rapids, IA (2023)
Solar Preparatory School for Girls/Dallas ISD | 2023 Dallas TRHT Racial Equity NOW Coaching | Dallas, TX (2023 - present)
Swan Strings | 2023 Dallas TRHT Racial Equity NOW Coaching | Dallas, TX (2023)
OPERA America | General Directors Equity Workshop Series | Online (2022 - 2023)
Our Friends Place | Anti-racism Talks Board of Directors Workshop | Dallas, TX (2022)
Union Coffee | 2022 Dallas TRHT Racial Equity NOW Coaching | Dallas, TX (2022)
Big Thought | 2022 Dallas TRHT Racial Equity NOW Coaching | Dallas, TX (2022)
Dallas Theater Center | WorkplacePeace Institute: Racial Equity Coaching | Online (2022)
Workplace Peace Institute | Trust & Communication Workshop | Dallas, TX (2022)
Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts | Faculty & Student Equity Workshop Series | Dallas, TX & Online (2021 - 2022)
Nashville Opera | Board & Staff Racial Equity Strategic Planning Workshops | Nashville, TN & Online (2021 - 2022)
Broadway Dallas | 2021 Dallas TRHT Racial Equity NOW Coaching | Dallas, TX (2021)
Hearing in Color | Staff Equity Learning Workshop Series | Online (2021)
Santa Fe Opera | Artist & Staff Connection Workshops | Santa Fe, NM (2021 & 2022)
Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Education | Racial Equity Workshop Series | Online (2020 - 2021)