October 08, 2025
LANSING, MI — The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is proud to announce that its Executive Director, John E. Johnson, Jr. has been awarded the Arthur L. Green Civil and Human Rights Award by the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA). The honor is named for Green, who died in 1991 and was a former president of IAOHRA and former Director of the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
According to the announcement letter, “This award is presented to an IAOHRA member in recognition of their lifelong advocacy for civil and human rights and their tireless efforts toward the advancement of racial and social justice. Your dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to these principles have made a profound impact, and IAOHRA is proud to honor your achievements.”
“This award is a reflection of the incredible work being done by the entire agency at the Michigan Department of Civil Rights,” said Executive Director Johnson. “I am deeply honored to receive the Green Award and proud to join a distinguished list of former awardees.”
Under Director Johnson’s leadership, the department was able to convince Governor Whitmer and the Legislature to commit to a greater budget investment, allowing an increase in staff and reduction to the backlog of cases. Johnson also relaunched the annual Michigan Civil Rights Summit and introduced a Public Portal to increase efficiency and move several services online. The award will be presented today at the annual IAOHRA training conference in Fairbanks, Alaska, although Director Johnson was unable to attend.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is charged with investigating and resolving discrimination complaints and works to prevent discrimination through educational programs that promote voluntary compliance with civil rights laws. Find more information on the Michigan Department of Civil Rights at michigan.gov/mdcr.
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