RUSTY JOHNSON
FOSTER ALUMNI, SPEAKER, TRAINER & MUSICIAN
About Rusty...
Passionate, skilled, motivating, real—these are all words used to describe Rusty Johnson. At the young age of 11, Rusty was removed from his home due to abuse and neglect and placed in foster care, where he aged out on his 18th birthday. Rusty's journey through foster care was turbulent. He was separated from his sisters, placed in multiple homes, displayed defiant behavior, struggled with his sexuality in rural Iowa, and during his 7th grade year, a medical condition was discovered that gave him a life expectancy of less than a year. With the help of positive adults surrounding him and a saxophone given as a gift by his biological mother shortly before her suicide, Rusty succeeded through foster care.
After graduating from Central College in Pella, Iowa, Rusty moved to Texas to pursue his graduate degree. Since then, Rusty has traveled the world as a professional musician, trainer, and speaker. He left Texas and moved to Los Angeles, where he met his husband, and returned to Iowa in 2016. On Rusty's 37th birthday in 2016, he was adopted by a former foster mother, who was also his elementary music teacher.
Rusty Johnson's American Dreams
is coming to Iowa in 2024!
The fifth national Rusty Johnson's American Dreams event will be held on the campus of Central College in Pella, Iowa, on Saturday, October 19th. In addition to the American Dreams conference held during the day, an evening concert will take place in Douwstra Auditorium at 7:00 PM. The evening show will feature national artists, awards, and more. All proceeds from the Rusty Johnson's American Dreams evening show will go to support Iowa's at-risk youth, providing opportunities to participate in music or dance lessons, sports camps, debate tournaments, and other activities to help nurture the dreams of today's youth.
Rusty & Generosity
Recently, Rusty was featured as a Story Teller for the Des Moines Register's Story Teller Project. Click to watch and listen to Rusty's story!
