Bringing Passions to Light: Three Questions with RJ Johnson, Content Producer

RJ Johnson (they/them) comes to SE2 with a broad background and a love of creating. With over five years of experience in marketing, communications, and content management, they have touched just about every aspect of the field.

A lifelong learner, RJ has an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a B.F.A. in Creative Writing from Stephens College. RJ comes to SE2 from the health insurance sector and approaches everything from a lens of intersectionality and community.

What did you learn growing up that you bring to work?

I grew up on a cattle ranch in Paonia and later moved to Telluride for high school. Both locations lent me many skills and knowledge that I use in my personal and professional life today.

I credit my work ethic, can-do attitude, and creative spirit to my childhood of ranch chores, 4-H, and extracurricular activities. When I wasn’t at school, I played sports, cared for horses, rabbits, and other family animals, or daydreamed and told myself stories.

My little brother and I would run wild, playing cowboys and knights, and were often told “not to come inside unless it was an emergency.” I learned the importance of getting a job done and done right, the sacred importance of life, and the responsibility of taking care of other creatures and using my imagination.

It was here that I began to write and create – first through English classes and then on my own.

My family moved to Telluride just before I started my freshman year of high school. This was a particularly hard transition for me. Still, I found new passions by joining the library’s creative writing, film, and other clubs and jumping into telemark skiing, the original form of skiing. I continued to hone my love of storytelling and even pushed myself to study abroad in Austria during my sophomore year.

I left my mark in the tracks of powder with my telemark skis and learned to follow my passions.

What made SE2 a good fit?

When it comes to work, I need a cause I’m passionate about. I worked for over two years in marketing to bring affordable health insurance to multiple states because I believed in it.

When I saw the job listing for content producer at SE2, I knew it would be the perfect fit. Everything SE2 does aligns with my values and goals in life – to help our world be a better place for everyone to live in and thrive.

That, combined with my favorite part of marketing – content creation – made me cross my fingers and hit apply! I’m thrilled to be here and can’t wait to unlock further possibilities.

What issues/causes are you passionate about?

There aren’t many “issues” I’m not passionate about. I think so many causes cross over so many parts of who we are and what we need, which is why intersectionality is so important. I’m very active in the LGBTQIA+ community and the drag community. I host and produce a monthly show in Denver called StageFluid, which is an open stage and allows folks to develop skills and create art; we have just started an all-ages, PG-rated version.

I do my best to help tackle the issue of the environment and have a small rural farm in Lakewood with my family, where we grow produce and share it with our community. I love animals and have six pets

(three cats, three dogs, and a horse), and I try to donate to animal rights causes. I go out of my way to support BIPOC businesses.

I believe that creating and fostering community and connection is essential to the human experience, and I do my best to help others when I can.