Meet the Founder




Morgan France-Johnson is the founder of Take My Hand, a brand rooted in self-love, encouragement, hope, healing, and the belief that we need each other to thrive. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Morgan developed her strength and resilience at an early age. She attended Baltimore City College High School, where she studied among some of Baltimore’s brightest students and gained the confidence to believe in her own potential. She later attended Spelman College, earning a degree in Economics with a minor in Art. Spelman gave her sisterhood, purpose, educational excellence, helping her grow into the woman she always wanted to become.
Morgan's desire to make a difference began in childhood. She once dreamed of building an apartment complex for people experiencing homelessness because she believed everyone deserved a place to call home. That desire to serve others eventually found expression through creativity and entrepreneurship. She founded Aesthetically Spoken, an LGBTQ+ greeting card line created because she couldn't find cards that reflected the beauty of LGBTQ+ love, and later launched Lux Creative, a freelance graphic design company. Both businesses became stepping stones toward Take My Hand.
Her journey, however, has also been shaped by profound mental health challenges. At 11 years old, Morgan experienced her first suicide attempt while struggling with her sexuality and spirituality. After losing her sister at 19 years old, she entered therapy for the first time. Years later, while living in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, she found herself questioning how she could want to die while seemingly having everything she wanted: beautiful relationships, a business, and the opportunity to travel the world. Seeking counseling ultimately led to her diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder in 2016, at age 31. Her journey would include approximately seven psychiatric hospitalizations, but through it all, Morgan learned that she is a fighter and that life is worth living.
The name Take My Hand came to Morgan in a dream in 2010, shortly after graduating from Spelman while experiencing homelessness and living in the Spelman Suites. To her, the name means that no one is meant to thrive alone. It represents reaching back when you succeed, extending support when someone is struggling, and understanding that our lives are connected. The first Take My Hand product was the i love you message to self sweatshirt, created to encourage people to speak love to themselves wherever they go.
That message became even more powerful when Morgan began creating more apparel designed to be read in the mirror. She wanted people to see words of love reflected back at them and understand that they are worthy of hearing those words from themselves. She knew Take My Hand was becoming more than a clothing brand when she saw someone cry after seeing the apparel for the first time, and when a young customer shared his personal struggles with his mother after purchasing a shirt. His mother's message about the impact of that moment brought Morgan to tears and reminded her why the work matters.
Today, Morgan knows that self-love is not always easy. It means loving the core of who you are, especially through seasons when your body, circumstances, or life may change. She believes healing means learning to live life on your own terms and refusing to let mental illness define the boundaries of your future. Through Take My Hand, she wants people to know they are not alone, they are stronger than what they are battling, and they are worthy of love, respect, and grace.
Morgan's vision extends far beyond apparel. She dreams of building Take My Hand stores and mental health centers where people can find resources, therapy, community, and products created to inspire and encourage. Ultimately, she wants to positively change the world by creating spaces where no one is left behind and everyone has an opportunity to thrive. The little girl who once dreamed of building homes for people without them is still building. Take My Hand is her invitation to build something together: a world where we heal, grow, support one another, and thrive.


