About
Rooted in Harlem.
Built to Educate.
Harlem is more than a neighborhood — it is a living, breathing monument to resilience, creativity, and community. And for Carolyn Johnson, it has always been home.
Meet Carolyn Johnson
Carolyn Johnson is an entrepreneur, licensed tour guide, and cultural ambassador whose work has made Harlem's story accessible to thousands of people from around the world. As the founder of Welcome to Harlem a walking tour company, the broad game Harlem-opoly, and The Harlem Time Trotters podcast and co-author of the Harlem Travel Guide, Carolyn has dedicated her career to preserving Harlem's legacy and sharing it with the world — in person, in play, in audio, and now online.
Her latest venture, Harlem Roots, is an extension of that mission: a comprehensive K-12 educational platform designed to bring Harlem's history into classrooms everywhere. Because Carolyn believes that understanding Harlem means understanding America.
Welcome to Harlem
America's #6 Best History Tour
Welcome to Harlem is the community's celebrated cultural and history tour company, and one of the most distinctive walking tour experiences in New York City. Blending storytelling, history, and community connection, Welcome to Harlem offers visitors and locals an authentic, immersive experience that goes far beyond the typical tourist trail.
The recognition has followed. Welcome to Harlem has been named the #6 Best History Tour in the United States by USA TODAY 10Best in 2026, following a nationwide Readers' Choice Awards competition. The honor places Welcome to Harlem among the top history tour companies in the country, recognized by both expert editors and thousands of public voters. It is a distinction earned through years of passionate, purpose-driven work — and a testament to Harlem's enduring
power to inspire.
Harlem-opoly: Play the Neighborhood
Harlem-opoly is Carolyn's beloved Harlem-themed board game that turns the neighborhood's iconic streets, landmarks, and cultural touchstones into an unforgettable game night experience. A playful celebration of Harlem's geography, history, and spirit, Harlem-opoly has become a favorite keepsake for visitors and a beloved gift in homes across the city and beyond.
The Harlem Time Trotters
The Harlem Time Trotters is Carolyn's and GoKidsGo podcast that takes listeners on a journey through Harlem's history and culture through rich, narrative storytelling. Each episode explores the people, events, and places that shaped this remarkable neighborhood — from its earliest days through its most transformative eras. Whether you're a lifelong Harlemite or discovering the neighborhood for the first time, The Harlem Time Trotters is your audio guide through time. Each episode comes with homework assignments to enhance the learning experience.
Why Harlem Roots Was Created
After years of watching visitors and locals fall in love with Harlem's story, Carolyn saw a gap: while the history was alive on the streets and in the tours, it wasn't always making its way into classrooms. Students were graduating without learning about the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights leaders who called Harlem home, or the layers of culture — Dutch, African American, Jewish, Latino — that made the neighborhood what it is today.
Harlem Roots was created to change that. It is a platform built on the belief that every student — from kindergarten through 12th grade — deserves access to Harlem's history. Because when students learn Harlem's story, they learn something essential about the American story.
