Dr. Michelle Johannson
Dr Michelle Johansson is a Polynesian educator, academic, mother and theatre-maker who has dedicated her career to create the Black Friars theatre company.
Her company works to re-story Pasifika in the largest Polynesian city in the world, to activate our heritage literacies, to grow future leaders and to hold courageous spaces for our young people to walk tall in both of their worlds.
Dr Johansson is a Pacific climate change voice because she encourages young islanders to use their voices to speak up about matters that affect them and their families as well as encourages them to be leaders.
In her “Top 10 pieces of advice for the teachers of young brown scholars” article, she states:
“Know that you are in the presence of warriors. They have fought. They are fighting. There are battles behind their eyes; and you cannot possibly understand the arms they bear, the scars they wear. Don’t make the classroom another trek behind enemy lines. Sometimes they need a soft place to land, a safe space to stand, someone willing to understand. And if this is not the lesson you planned? perhaps it is the lesson YOU need”
With an inspiring way, Dr Johansson understands that young people are warriors and can help us the most in this fight against climate change. Watch some of her work here to be inspired to raise leaders.