Ariel Johnson is a dedicated MNFLR Champion whose advocacy reflects resilience, integrity, and a deep commitment to protecting children and parental rights. Through lived experience navigating Minnesota’s family court system, Ariel became a voice for families seeking fairness, transparency, and timely decisions.

Rather than remaining silent in the face of procedural delays and inconsistent enforcement, Ariel chose to engage in reform efforts that extend beyond individual cases and focus on systemic improvement.

 

Ariel has played a central role in drafting and advancing key reform initiatives, including:

• Minnesota Parenting Time Restoration Act

• Minnesota Interference Prevention Bill

• Timely Family Court Act

• Minnesota Family Balance Standard

Ariel’s Advocacy Focus Includes:

• Promoting balanced custody standards grounded in clear evidence

• Supporting restoration of parenting time when allegations are unsubstantiated

• Advocating for accountability in cases of documented interference

• Encouraging timely and child centered court decisions

• Elevating parent voices in legislative conversations

Ariel Johnson represents the strength of parents who transform personal hardship into meaningful civic engagement. As an MNFLR Champion, Ariel helps advance reform efforts that prioritize children’s well being, protect due process, and work toward a more consistent and accountable family court system in Minnesota.

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Ariel Johnson is a Minnesota Family Law Reform Champion and the Owner, Educational Consultant, and Advocate behind the Tell It to the Trees Curriculum. She is a single mother to her four-year-old son and brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her advocacy work.

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Ariel earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin–Superior in 2016, where she double majored in Biology and Broad Field Science, double minored in Earth/Space Science and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and obtained a teaching license for early adolescence and adolescence. She later received her Master of Arts in Education in Natural Sciences and Environmental Education from Hamline University in 2021. Her graduate thesis focused on integrating restorative practices with outdoor and place-based education to support at-risk youth, improve climate awareness, and promote holistic healing through nature-based learning.

Ariel is certified as an advocate through the National Advocate Credentialing Program and has completed Victim Assistance Training through the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center within the U.S. Department of Justice. She is also trained in Mental Health First Aid USA through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

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Her commitment to reforming Minnesota’s family court system and protecting children is rooted in both her professional and personal experiences. As an educator, Ariel witnessed firsthand the impacts of family court dynamics on children, particularly when accountability is lacking for violations of court orders, false allegations, and prolonged conflict that places children at the center of adult disputes. Her advocacy is driven by a belief that healing-centered systems, accountability, and prevention are essential to protecting future generations and ensuring children’s wellbeing.