For Anthony Johnson, the path to his current roles as a behavioral health advocate and Broomfield Early Childhood Council board member wasn't a straight line. It began with a simple question to his community: Why weren't people who needed them seeking mental health resources? The answers he received - lack of representation, stigma, and limited access - have continued to shape his life's work, and served as the catalyst for Cultural Brokers Advocates, a nonprofit organization Anthony founded dedicated to connecting people with mental and behavioral health resources.
A resident of the Denver metro area for over four decades, Johnson has witnessed tremendous community growth. "When I moved to where I live, there was nothing," he recalls. "We moved out of inner city Denver to the suburbs to get away from gang life. And so when we first got there, it's like nothing there. And now it's almost... it looks as urban as Denver now."
In this increasingly busy setting, Anthony’s work in mental and behavioral health support began before he even realized it. In his early career within the school system, "I was usually the person connecting with either at-risk youth or students [with high behavioral needs] and building relationships while helping them talk through things… I was doing it before I knew I was doing it." This natural inclination to support others eventually led him to work in behavioral health - something that he may not have predicted, but has nonetheless become a passion for him.
The creation of Cultural Brokers Advocates came from a deep understanding of community needs. “I was asking the community why they weren't seeking mental health resources, and they told me: it's because of lack of representation, it's because of stigma, and it’s because of access. So the Cultural Brokers piece [of our name] came from wanting to broker in cultural relevance to mental behavioral health. When people who are seeking help see somebody that looks like them, they're often more apt to connect with said person because there's familiarity, and the hope is that it opens a door to knock down stigma.” Anthony and his organization intentionally do not house therapists, instead positioning themselves as counselors and bridges to healing, recognizing the stigma that some cultures attach to therapy. This thoughtful approach to culturally conscious care has become a cornerstone of their work in breaking down barriers to mental health support.
It was through this work that Anthony first connected with Jessica Jones, BECC's Executive Director. They started by talking about the community needs that Anthony had found throughout the course of his work, with Jessica sharing her perspective as a nonprofit’s executive director; and when a board position opened at BECC, Jessica extended an invitation. Despite initial doubts about board service, Anthony found his place at BECC through authentic relationships and shared commitment to community support. He credits Jessica's leadership and willingness to collaborate as fundamental to his involvement: "The fact that she was so willing to pour into what I was doing... my thought was, if she's that willing to help me with what I'm doing, how much more does she pour into the community members that they are connecting with?"
As both a father and grandfather, Anthony brings a family-first perspective to his board service. With his children now encountering many of the shared challenges that parents face in 2025, he witnesses firsthand the challenges that organizations like BECC work to address. "Having organizations [like BECC] that can't solve everything but are trying to directly help with different aspects... that's what they're there to support," he reflects. That perspective is reflected in one of his hopes for BECC as an organization: long-term sustainability. Having recently celebrated a year on the BECC board, Anthony’s experience as a founder of his own organization shapes his vision for BECC's future, and his primary focus is ensuring sustainable funding to properly compensate the staff for their crucial work.
Anthony’s journey from reluctant board member to passionate advocate exemplifies how personal relationships can catalyze meaningful community engagement. His dual perspective as both a nonprofit leader and board member enriches BECC's work, while his dedication to cultural understanding and accessibility helps strengthen the organization's connection to the families it serves.
If you're interested in receiving CBA's newsletter, please email info@cbacolorado.org.
Comments