Humanitarian at heart and creative problem solver by nature, Sylvia Johnson is a change maker who believes that solutions come from unlikely places and the world thrives when we all do well. A true global citizen, Sylvia was born in Bolivia to American parents doing international development work abroad, and raised between war torn Central America and the mountain wilderness of a small town in Colorado. These experiences profoundly shaped how she sees the world, fueled her belief that we are all part of one big global village, and fostered her love of wild places.
Sylvia’s film work focuses on creating visual stories that increase our understanding of our shared humanity. She also works with organizations to develop impact strategies that foster behavior change for social good. In this capacity, she offers a unique perspective that encourages people to seek out of the box solutions, develop unlikely alliances, and remove barriers to empowerment - whether it be around human rights, environmental stewardship, or other pressing issues.
Sylvia has lived and worked in Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, the United States, and the UK. She is a Fulbright Scholar, a Center for Environmental Filmmaking Scholar, and an Aspen Institute Socrates Seminar grant recipient. She has worked with organizations like the National Park Service, the Inter-American Culture and Development Foundation, and the Santa Fe Art Institute, and as a contributing faculty member at the Corcoran College of Art + Design and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Her films have been featured in film festivals around the world.