Birmingham's new director of community engagement is tasked with creating a comprehensive community-based strategy to control and prevent violent crime, drug trafficking and other drug-related crime.

Brandon Johnson, a native of Chicago, will expand on the aims of the now-defunct Mayor's Office of Community Policing and Revitalization and serve as the mayor's liaison on projects involving public safety, violence reduction and police/community engagement.

"I'm excited to bring Brandon on board for this role," Mayor Randall Woodfin said. "He has years of experience in the social justice, public policy and urban planning sectors. His boots have already been on the ground, and we're ready for him to be an advocate for Birmingham's neighborhoods."

Johnson's annual salary is $95,000.

Prior to joining the Woodfin administration, Johnson practiced law and served as director of policy for the Westside Justice Center in Chicago. He also worked previously as executive director of the Washington Park Consortium, a principal with Catalyst Global Strategies, a senior consultant at Flinn Consultants, and a project manager for "Reconnecting Neighborhoods" with the Metropolitan Planning Council. He has also served as a policy analyst in the Illinois General Assembly.

While Johnson is from Chicago, his family has deep roots in Alabama, according to the mayor's office. His family has lived in the Birmingham area since the late 1930s.

Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Morehouse College and a law degree from DePaul University.

According to the mayor's office, Johnson is working to develop relationships with external partners, including community entities and individuals, supportive services organizations and law enforcement agencies to better serve each of the city's 99 neighborhoods.

The Office of Community Engagement will work to: Create strong, functional and sustainable partnerships between neighborhood residents and city government departments, including police

* Create interdepartmental collaboration as a standard operating procedure at the City of Birmingham

* Strengthen a grassroots citizen-directed planning process around law enforcement and social services to include transparent and timely accountability mechanisms.

"Mayor Woodfin's decision to create this position will provide an unprecedented opportunity for residents of Birmingham to be substantive partners in making their city a safer place to live, work and play,'' Johnson said. "I'm honored and humbled to serve and support residents' rights and equality.''

One of Johnson's first tasks is bringing back the Youth Citizens Police Academy this summer and the Citizens Police Academy for adults this fall.

Johnson said such programs help increase transparency of police operations and expose youth to a potential career in law enforcement.

The youth sessions for children ages 6 to 18 will address gun safety, bullying, conflict resolution, the dangers of social media, police interaction, the importance of respecting adults and more. Birmingham Explorers, students interested in being police officers, will also be present. The Birmingham Police Department's Vice and Narcotics unit will discuss the dangers of drugs.

The academies will take place in July. Children must have signed permission slips from parents to attend. Those permission slips are available at participating community centers. For more information, send an email to Nicole.Collins@birminghamal.gov.

The youth police academy, which is free, will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

The first academy for children living in the Marks Village and Harris Homes areas is July 11 to 13 at 503 Brussels Circle. The second for children living in the Smithfield Court area is July 18 to 20. Location to be determined. The third academy is for children living in the Morton Simpson/Kingston areas is July 25 to 27. Location to be determined.

On the last day of each youth academy, Birmingham police officers will face students in a basketball game.

Johnson said his office is also working to address several issues through the following efforts:

* Mayor's Reentry Task Force, which was launched in the spring to assist those recently released from incarceration

* Operation Step Up, part of Woodfin's public safety plan to impact crime by coordinating various city services and outside partners

* Strategies for Policing Innovation, a Department of Justice program that analyzes data to improve crime-fighting strategies

* Birmingham Public Safety Task Force, a multi-agency law enforcement task force to find Birmingham's most violent fugitives

* Birmingham Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, a public-private partnership designed to strengthen and develop initiatives focused on crime prevention, improving community trust in law enforcement and helping residents successfully return to the community after incarceration

Updated at 3:37 p.m. with Brandon Johnson's salary.