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Nat Geo Explorer Driven by Passions, Principles, Practices Intersects Maps, Data and Tech to Chart an Inclusive World: Meet Clinton Johnson, CEO of Us At Spaces
In honor of Black History Month, we are proud to highlight leaders who are breaking barriers and driving change in their fields. This month, we celebrate Clinton Johnson, a National Geographic Explorer, CEO & Chief Visionary Officer of Us At Spaces, and a technologist dedicated to equity and storytelling.
Tell us about your journey.
I grew up in Philadelphia, a city rich in history and resilience, where I developed a deep appreciation for public service and technology. Early on, I saw how systemic inequities played out in everyday life, and I became drawn to geospatial technology (GIS) because of its power to shape policy, decision-making, and resource distribution.
I started my career focused on tech for public service, but I quickly realized that technology alone wasn’t enough—bias, access, and systemic inequities shaped whose stories were told and whose realities were mapped. This led me to focus on racial justice and social good, ensuring that GIS and geospatial tools served the communities most impacted by inequity, rather than reinforcing existing disparities.
Over time, my work evolved into creating tables, career strategies, and SaferSpaces for those pushed to the margins—including Black geo professionals, women of all backgrounds, and others historically excluded from leadership and decision-making roles. Through Black At Work, Women At Work, and the Empathy Atlas, I’m helping to map these experiences, amplify success strategies, and ensure that marginalized professionals are not just included—but empowered.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
My first geo job introduced me to the powerful intersections of maps, data, and tech, but it also exposed how racial and gender bias could shape career paths, limit opportunities, and even distort how communities were represented in data.
When I transitioned into the tech industry, I saw how many in GIS failed to connect the dots between racism, policy, and geography, making it difficult for even well-intentioned organizations to address long histories of racist mapping and planning policies—even when they had access to some of the most advanced tools available.
At the same time, I saw that even where Black professionals existed in GIS, we weren’t given access to the most critical projects or the visibility needed to grow in our careers.
Then came COVID-19. At the beginning of the pandemic, I worked with others to highlight how GIS could be used to surface racial disparities, hoping to avoid another Hurricane Katrina—where systemic neglect deepened racialized harm. Too often, disasters are treated as if they impact all people equally, but the reality is that they always hit marginalized communities hardest. This reinforced my commitment to advocating for equity-driven approaches in tech, policy, and mapping.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned about yourself through your life and career?
I’ve learned that everyone has three unique elements that shape their journey, and by leaning into these, we can show up as our best selves and thrive—even in the face of systemic barriers.
These three elements are:
- Passions – What drives me.
- Principles – What guides me.
- Practices – What I do, how I grow, and what I bring to the table.
For me, my Passions push me to use tech for social good, my Principles keep me rooted in equity and justice, and my Practices—from coding and data modeling to strategizing and advocacy—are the tools I refine over time.
I’ve also learned that growth isn’t just individual—it’s collective. True progress happens when we build systems, communities, and spaces that uplift and support each other.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
I’m driven by the people I’ve met, the systemic barriers I’ve witnessed, and the possibilities I know exist when those barriers are removed.
Tech, mapping, and storytelling are some of the most powerful tools for change—but they must be used with intentionality. When done right, GIS and geospatial analysis can make the invisible visible, uncover injustices, and give communities the data they need to advocate for themselves.
I don’t just want to use these tools—I want to democratize access to them. I want to ensure that Black professionals, women, and other historically excluded groups are not just participants, but leaders, decision-makers, and architects of change.
If you could go back and advise your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self: You already have what you need to navigate the road ahead—you just need to believe in your power.
I'd remind him that barriers won’t always make sense—some will be arbitrary, some will be deeply systemic—but he is not alone in overcoming them.
I’d tell him to embrace five human superpowers:
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Confidence – You belong in every room you step into.
- Creativity – There’s always a way forward—even if you have to build it.
- Resourcefulness – Make a way, even when one isn’t given.
- Tenacity – Keep going, even when the path isn’t clear.
- Compassion – For yourself and for others—this journey is collective.
I’d also tell him to listen carefully to Dr. King’s words about the arc of the moral universe—it doesn’t simply bend toward justice on its own. It bends because people bend it. Together, we can use tools like GIS, GeoAI, and geospatial thinking to drive justice, reshape systems, and empower communities—both close to home and across the globe.
How can GlobalMindED support Black leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
GlobalMindED has the opportunity to be both an ally and a champion for Black geo leaders.
- As an ally, GlobalMindED can bring visibility to the work, journeys, and challenges of Black leaders in GIS, geospatial science, and tech.
- As a champion, it can encourage its partners and the larger geo community to actively identify and remove systemic barriers to access and advancement for Black professionals.
One way GlobalMindED can ensure this support is ongoing and action-driven is by uplifting Black in Geography Day, an initiative founded in 2024 by NorthStar of GIS.
Black in Geography Day—celebrated on October 27th—honors Gladys West, a pioneer in global positioning and geodesy whose work helped make GPS possible. This day serves as a global call to action to increase Black representation and leadership in geo fields.
GlobalMindED could integrate this day into its programming, recognizing and celebrating Black geospatial leaders—not just in February or June, but all year round. This would help create sustained visibility, systemic change, and opportunities for Black professionals to lead the next era of geospatial innovation.
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