Vanessa Johnson collaborated with the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center to bring their social justice focus from the suburb of Fayetteville into the city of Syracuse. Partnering with the Brady Faith Center, Vanessa helped create “The Power of the Pen,” a girls’ writing group. African-American girls ages 12-16 explored Gage’s social justice focus, learned storytelling, writing, and wrote weekly. Vanessa moved Gage’s Ambassadors for Human Rights program from Fayetteville to the north-side of Syracuse in a collaboration with R.I.S.E. (Refugee & Immigrant Self Empowerment Program). Girls ages 8-18 explored U.S. women’s history, and engaged in dialogue about Gage’s key social justice issues. Power of the Pen members and the Gage Ambassadors wrote stories about their lives, refugee journeys, and other justice issues that will be included in a 2025 publication. Both groups went on field trips to local institutions including The National Women’s Rights Center in Seneca Falls, M.O.S.T. Science Museum, Syracuse University Community Folk Art Center, and Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn. Vanessa also led storytelling in over 80 schools, art camps, churches, community events, libraries, community centers, and senior centers, as well as holding four solo fiber arts exhibitions.

The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation is dedicated to educating current and future generations about abolition and women’s rights advocate Matilda Joslyn Gage’s life and work. The Center honors the work of Matilda Joslyn Gage by holding it up as a model in the continuing struggle for equal rights.