Dr. Kenneth L. Johnson, II is a native of East Gainesville, Florida, and was educated at M.K. Rawlings Elementary, Howard Bishop Middle School, and Eastside High School. He is a proud HBCU graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with a minor in education. He also holds a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Literature, Media, and Culture from The Florida State University. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate school careers, he was a member of the marching band and wind ensembles, as well as leadership in multiple campus organizations such as Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc., Big Brother Little Brother Mentoring Program, the Black Graduate Student Association, and the National Black Graduate Student Association. While completing his doctoral studies, Dr. Johnson was a Visiting Professor in the Department of English and Modern Languages at FAMU.

Currently, Dr. Johnson is an Assistant Professor of African American Literature at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. He has taught courses on Kiese Laymon, Toni Morrison, contemporary Black men’s memoirs, and “Fire in Little Africa,” a hip-hop album commemorating the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Dr. Johnson’s research interests include 20th and 21st-century African American narratives, the works of Kiese Laymon, Black Southern fiction, Black Southern boyhood, Black men’s memoirs, and Black masculinity studies. He is working on a monograph tentatively entitled Knocking the Hustle: Epistolary Echoes in Black Men’s Public Letter Writing, an exploration of the utility of Black men’s letter writing toward healing, a praxis of love, and revisioning the definition and expression of Black masculinity. In his free time, Dr. Johnson is a freelance graphic designer and amateur chef.

Braxton Linton III is a urban planning consultant at CHW Professional Consultants. In his role with the Planning + Design team, he works to deliver clients’ goals and innovative visions to the communities where we work and live. Currently, Braxton works remotely and lives in Dallas, Texas. His interests include hiking, watching sports, and learning about new development practices in different areas. 

Braxton previously served on Gainesville’s Development Review Board. As a City of Gainesville Development Review Board member, Braxton reviewed variances, major development plans, and design plans, ensuring compliance with local ordinances. This role furthered his expertise in Gainesville's Code of Ordinances, Land Development Code, sunshine law, ethics, and procedures.

Braxton, a recent University of Florida (UF) graduate, earned a Master in Urban and Regional Planning degree. He has a community-first mindset, which he brought to his roles in a Planning Internship with Gainesville Police Department and as Social Chair for the UF Student Planning Association. Braxton’s thesis research, which centered around economic development, was titled: The impact of the Pandemic on Restaurants/Bars Near Campus During the Limited Capacity of Gator Football Games.

Braxton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management from Florida State University (FSU). During his time at FSU Braxton was a member of the Sports Management Student Association and volunteered at the Kearney homeless shelter regularly. After graduation Braxton completed an internship with the University of Colorado Athletics Department.