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Megan Johnson

After teaching high school in Wisconsin and junior high school in Japan, Ms. Johnson has lent her talents as an exceptional educator and administrator for Hostelling International Chicago since October 2003. She has excelled at developing, delivering and evaluating educational programs that teach cultural understanding to diverse students throughout Chicago, the country and
the world. The core of Ms. Johnson's job responsibilities is working among diverse cultures within Chicago. The hostel's educational programs serve youth throughout Chicago from every ethnic and economic group. Ms. Johnson's efforts are to build skills that encourage communication across cultures and break down cultural isolation experienced by her students.

Because of the homogeneity of many of Chicago's schools and neighborhoods, the programs that Ms. Johnson runs focus on combating stereotypes that are bred from ignorance, fear, and hate that students feel towards the Other. Ms. Johnson's first-hand knowledge of cultures in over twelve countries, enthusiasm for creating more tolerance in the world, and talent for working with youth make her an educator that students look to as a model for what they can become.