Madison community leader Michael Johnson will mark his 50th birthday with the launch of his new book, The Audacity to Lead: From the Projects to the C-Suite, 7 Mindset Lessons on Love, Family, and Turning Adversity into Impact, on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at SPARETIME, 7415 Mineral Point Rd.
The celebration runs from 6–9 p.m. and will feature a fireside-style Q&A, book signing, and social mixer. The free event is open to the public, though RSVPs are encouraged as space is limited.
Johnson’s new book distills lessons learned over a 20-year career in nonprofit and civic leadership, emphasizing purpose, resilience, coalition-building, and legacy. Johnson describes The Audacity to Lead as “a blueprint for leading with purpose; no perfect conditions are required, only courage, service, and bold action.”
More than 150 guests—including elected officials, business and nonprofit leaders, and families touched by his work—are expected to attend.
Johnson, who currently serves as CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, has led initiatives that have raised over $250 million nationwide and helped direct $21.6 million to local high schools, contributing to a 97 percent graduation rate for students in BGCDC programs, according to a press release. He also spearheaded the 2024 unveiling of the Vel Phillips statue at the Wisconsin State Capitol, the first standalone monument to a Black woman on any state capitol grounds in the U.S.
Attendees can RSVP for the event at this Evite link and learn more about Johnson’s work at mjohnsonceo.com.
