Johnny Celestin is executive director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services. He previously served deputy director in NY City’s Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs). He leads the nonprofit organization Konbit for Haiti and is a faculty member at the Studley Graduate Program in International Affairs program at the New School University.

Johnny brings extensive leadership and global experience in international development, governance, leadership, and community development. He has over 30 years of experience in the private, public and philanthropic sectors. He has worked at a number of organizations and institutions, including: The New School University (Studley Graduate Program in International Affairs program); The Future Leaders Foundation; Centre Haitien du Leadership et de l’Excellence – CLE (Haitian Center for Leadership and Excellence); Ministry of Planning & External Cooperation (Haiti); The Clinton Foundation; The Haitian Fund for Innovation (Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors – RPA); The Atlantic Philanthropies; The Robin Hood Foundation; Accenture, LLP; Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.

After the 2010 earthquake, Johnny moved to Haiti where he lived for nine years. In Haiti, he worked in the development sector as Director of the Haitian Fund for Innovation and Executive Director of Le Centre Haitien pour le Leadership et l’Excellence, the first Haiti-based and Haitian-led leadership development center. He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Planning (MPCE).

Johnny is an entrepreneur, bridge builder, and activist who is committed to social change and most importantly social justice. He is an active member of various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Haiti and the US. He serves on the board of CLE; Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL); Defend Haiti’s Democracy (DHD); Forum Haïtien Pour la Paix et le Développement Durable (FOHPDD); and Peace Dialogue.

He is a social and political analyst. He publishes op-eds on the online newspaper Ayibopost and is the co-host of Le Mo-Jo show, a weekly live Facebook and radio show whose mission is to inform and educate the Haitian-American community.