Timothy Johnson was with CRS from ‘84 to 2010 and the positions he held were Reconciliation Specialist, Chief of Field Coordination, and then Senior Conciliation Specialist.

<p>All Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNEO2g2TpLNzIY0VkREnM6BM-c95IysF9

Part 1 of 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRkKPZhIAvU

Part 2 of 3: ;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNE5WSgidu4

Part 3 of 3: ;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am7V8k6oUGY

On July 21st, 2021, in the first of three conversations, Bill Froehlich interviewed former senior conciliator Timothy Johnson as part of the Civil Rights Mediation Oral History Project. Mr. Johnson shares details about his career trajectory before joining CRS in 1984. He reflects on his positions at CRS, including reconciliation specialist, chief of field coordination, and senior conciliation specialist. Mr. Johnson discusses the bureaucratic and political challenges within the federal government and how changes in administrations influenced the agency's priorities. He mentions Wally Warfield and Bob Lamb, who he viewed as his mentors. The interview touches on the significance of the "sacred trust" in working towards racial justice, highlighting the dedication of CRS staff in addressing racial tension and violence in America.  

The interview provides insights into the complexities of working in the federal government and the ongoing efforts of CRS in facilitating dialogue, understanding issues, and offering assistance in conflict resolution. Mr. Johnson also talks about navigating bureaucratic requirements, understanding the language of administration, and adapting his reports to fulfill both the mission of CRS and the expectations of higher-ups. He emphasizes the importance of understanding organizational language and management priorities in a large institution.

Mr. Johnson shares a specific case involving a potential city-wide strike initiated by a minority community against their city, highlighting the challenges faced in attempting to mediate the situation. He discusses entry and getting appointments by telling people that he was with the Department of Justice. Mr. Johnson acknowledges the complexities of being a white representative from the federal government when dealing with communities that have historically faced discrimination, emphasizing the need for building trust and overcoming resistance through effective communication. Mr. Johnson mentions another case involving grievances against a police department by the African American community. He emphasizes the importance of involving multiple voices and organizations in the process. The conversation touches on the complexities of policing-community interactions, addressing concerns such as bias-based policing and lack of trust. The importance of understanding both the community's perspective and the challenges faced by police officers during routine stops is highlighted.

The conversation shifts to his involvement in restorative justice practices and approach to facilitating discussions. Mr. Johnson shares the concept "yaicoy" (you are in charge of you) and discusses the significance of facilitating conversations beyond the typical questions often used in restorative justice practices. The interview concludes with Mr. Johnson emphasizing the foundational idea of CRS as a service to help communities make peace, acknowledging the diversity of approaches based on the people involved in each case.

On April 27, 2022, the second interview with Tim Johnson dives deeper into his experiences at CRS. The interview begins with a discussion of the roadblocks he faced during cases at CRS. Tim highlights initial roadblocks in making contact with both parties, emphasizing issues of trust, fear, and concerns about government intervention. To overcome these obstacles, Tim emphasizes the neutrality and confidentiality aspects of CRS’s work. Tim shares strategies for building trust, emphasizing that he doesn't make decisions for the parties but provides a platform for them to work out solutions. Tim discusses his view of success and measuring successful outcomes. Tim expresses a sense of accomplishment when parties no longer require CRS intervention. He also discusses the broader goal of achieving long-term systemic change.

Tim discusses the emergence of social movements such as Black Lives Matter and their impact on his work as a conciliator with CRS. He expresses a positive view of social movements, seeing them as opportunities to bring people into dialogue and address various concerns. Tim emphasizes the importance of using social movements to facilitate conversations about justice, policy changes, and the need for adjustments within institutions.

Tim states that CRS should be more proactive and the importance of addressing small points of tension before they escalate into major conflicts. Tim envisions CRS having more resources and time to facilitate proactive dialogues in communities, addressing issues related to racial tension, discriminatory practices, and internal problems. He suggests reaching out to community leaders and addressing the importance of dealing with issues before they escalate into larger problems. The interview also touched on collaboration with other agencies. Tim mentions the SPIRIT program which involved community members facilitating discussions in schools.

Tim reflects on the influence that different administrations had on CRS priorities. He notes that Democratic administrations tended to be more supportive and encouraging of CRS's work, while Republican administrations were less aggressive and leaned towards a more reactive approach. Tim briefly discusses the Shepard Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act and its impact on CRS's work. He notes that while the act expanded the statutory mandate to cover additional groups, such as those based on sexual orientation and disabilities, he personally did not handle cases outside the traditional focus on race, color, and national origin. Tim attributes this to a lack of training and opportunities to recognize cases involving these groups. He retired in 2012 and mentions that by then, CRS had not extensively addressed cases related to the expanded mandate.

The last segment of interviews with Tim Johnson starts with a discussion of table-oriented mediation. Tim talks about the composition of the participants in table-oriented processes and the challenges in bringing them to the table. He explains that typically, community groups or leaders sit on one side, while representatives from local government, such as mayors or police chiefs, sit on the other side. Tim outlines the assessment stage, where he determines the key players, assesses the willingness of parties to engage in talks, and explores the issues at hand. Tim approaches mediation sessions by encouraging parties to share their perspectives and works towards finding resolutions.

The conversation shifts to addressing challenges in building trust between parties and how Tim addressed power disparities and empowered minority voices. Tim discusses his commitment to honesty and ensuring that all parties have a fair opportunity to express their concerns. The interview also includes a discussion of street-oriented processes. Tim shares an example of a demonstration.  He discusses the goal of keeping conflicting groups physically separated and finding immediate solutions to prevent violence while maintaining order. Tim shares techniques like isolating individuals expressing violent intentions and engaging them in conversation to defuse tension. Tim discusses the dynamics of handling protests and demonstrations, particularly when dealing with a large number of protesters and counter-protesters. The ratio of conciliators to participants varies, and local law enforcement is often involved. After the demonstration, there was often follow-up and a debrief with law enforcement or other community leaders involved.

Tim discusses navigating the bureaucracy at CRS and advises individuals to understand the purpose behind bureaucratic tasks, efficiently complete reports, and see it as a necessary aspect of doing the work they are passionate about. He mentions his role in promoting information sharing and collaboration among conciliators nationally during his time as Chief of Field Coordination. Tim concludes the interview by expressing his gratitude for working at CRS, considering it the highlight of his career. He wishes he had done more and stayed longer, expressing honor in being considered a peer with other respected individuals who have worked at CRS.