The Mission
&
Vision
Advancing the Legacy
The James Weldon Foundation
Mission
The mission of the James Weldon Johnson Foundation is to preserve and advance the enduring legacy of James Weldon Johnson, one of America’s most influential writers, thinkers, cultural leaders and advocates for justice. Through the historic preservation of landmarks such as Five Acres, the Johnsons’ retreat in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and the promotion of educational, intellectual, and artistic initiatives, the Foundation fosters creativity, equity, and cultural reflection that impacts the contemporary world.
James Weldon Johnson. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
James Weldon Johnson in Front of His Writing Cabin, Five Acres, James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
At the heart of our mission is Five Acres, a property purchased by the Johnsons in 1926 as a place of refuge, retreat, and inspiration. It was here, in his self-designed Writing Cabin, surrounded by the restorative landscape of the Berkshires, that Johnson created some of his most celebrated poetry, books, and essays. By honoring the significance of this historic site, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation carries forward James Weldon Johnson’s vision of justice, creative expression, and community while inspiring new generations to reflect, learn, and build upon his transformative legacy.
The James Weldon Foundation
Vision
We envision a world where creativity, equity and cultural preservation drive progress, dialogue, and understanding. The James Weldon Johnson Foundation empowers artists, scholars, and communities to thrive through programs such as the James Weldon Johnson Fellowship in the Arts, initiatives like The LIFT Collective, and the conservation of historic spaces like Five Acres and Johnson’s Writing Cabin.
Brian Poli Dixon, Artist Residency Program Fellow
View of Five Acres, Great Barrington
Central to this vision is the development of the Center for Culture and Convening at Five Acres—a retreat designed to provide a restorative and inspiring environment for artists, thought leaders, scholars, the intellectually curious, and those passionate about history to reflect, collaborate, and create. By honoring the legacy of James Weldon Johnson, we strive to create spaces for inspiration, connection, and transformative impact, ensuring the ideals of justice, creativity, and community remain a guiding light for generations to come.
James Weldon Johnson. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
“A people may become great through many means, but there is only one measure by which its greatness is recognized and acknowledged. The final measure of the greatness of all peoples is the amount and standard of the literature and art they have produced. The world does not know that a people is great until that people produces great literature and art. No people that has produced great literature and art has ever been looked upon by the world as distinctly inferior...”
—James Weldon Johnson, Published in 1922 (written in 1921) in the preface to the first edition of The Book of American Negro Poetry