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JOY Baltimore On the Move
OUR VISION
JOY FACTS
JOY Baltimore, May 2017
∙ Assisted (3) youth to obtain Affordable health care ∙ Assisted (2) youth with obtaining their Social Security Card ∙ Registered (4) youth in Baltimore City Youth Works ∙ Assisted and Enrolled (1) youth in Woodland Job Corps in Culinary Arts & Hotel Management been in for one year to date, and they are one credit away from a Maryland High School Diploma also obtained his safe serve ∙
Located (3) full time job placement ∙ Conducted a Domestic Violence Workshop For Youth (8) teens ages 13-22 ∙ Currently assisting (4) youth for their senior prom ∙ Participating in the Maryland Youth Reach conducting surveys of (50) homeless youth ∙ Worksite Sponsor for Youth Works 2017 for (20) youth for a period of ten summer weeks
JOY Baltimore is devoted to helping the youth of Baltimore meet their individual needs. Since our inception in October 2016 to present, JOY has helped (95) youth accomplish the following:
Joy Baltimore has had a 100% success rate with the youth that we have helped. We look forward to assisting more youth to achieve their goals.
Joy Baltimore's Vision is to be a one-stop shop for all youth who are experiencing homelessness and/or displacement. We strive to create a center where youth can come in and feel safe, be met where they are in their lives, and help them develop a plan that will make them an independent, successful, and educated youth and young adult. By meeting them where they are, JOY is able to address their issues that accompany homelessness head on.
Our motto is“Strides to Excellence, Why Not
the Best.”
Photo by Alex Holyoake
Baltimore Youth From Homeless To High School GraduateEDWARD OPHER
“Easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” - Fredrick Douglass
JOY Baltimore, May 2017
Tell me how did you learn about Joy Baltimore and what do you think of the organization?I learned about JOY Baltimore from Lonnie Walker. I think it's a wonderful idea to help homeless youth.
What have you received from JOY Baltimore that has improved your life?Insight for where I should be in life and how to get there.
Would you recommend a friend or stranger to this program and why?Yes, I would not want no one to go through what I went through, and because the streets is no place for anyone.
How could JOY Baltimore improve in helping youths?Giving more youths the opportunities to
get off the streets.
What are your thoughts with youth sitting on the board as a board member.I could give them my perspective, being I was a homeless youth at one time, and it would also help me give back.
What do you think are concerns some people might have about putting a homeless shelter for youths in their neighborhood?A lot depends on the condition of the neighborhood but most of all safety.
How happy are you with the people you have come in contact with Joy Baltimore?Very happy I have a better impact on life with older people.
How do you feel about the questions that were just asked
of you?I feel no special way. It's okay.
Could you tell me how prompt is JOY Baltimore is with servicing your needs?It's good, although I was disappointed with a meeting that was supposed to happen and it didn't.
Can JOY Baltimore count on you to assist with lobbying our mission to your peers?Yes, anywhere I can I will.
What was your age when you first experience homelessness?I was 14 years old.
EDWARD OPHER is a JOY Baltimore success story. He went from being homeless to graduating with his high school diploma, Now, he is close to completing another life goal – becoming a chef. Leslie Wright sat down with him and asked how JOY Baltimore influenced his life:
Edward in his Culinary Training Program
“Be Someone Important,Be Yourself”
If any youth are interested in learning a trade, contact:
WOODLAND JOB CORPS CENTER3300 Fort Mead RoadLaurel, MD 0724(301) 362-6000 (phone)(301) 362-6052 (fax)
Young and HomelessTREMAINE MOORE
More Support For Undocumented Youth
JOY Baltimore, May 2017
My name is Tremaine Moore, I am a 19 year old African-American male who graduated out of the Baltimore City public school system in June of 2016. Growing up I lived in an untraditional family structure here in Baltimore, due to the lingering effects of some occurrences with my parents around the time of my birth. Going into my aunt’s custody at only 3 weeks old in 1997 was the start of everything for me both positive and negative. Long story short, my aunt moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2006 along with me, and I began longing to reconcile with my mother, but every opportunity for me and my mother to reconnect and set things straight had failed. The last time was at age 17 which for me was crucial because I was bordering adulthood but despite that, IT FAILED YET AGAIN! By this time I was mature, independent, and very set in ways about being the difference I wanted to see manifest in my family circle on the level of finance, hope, opportunity, and drive. My indifference caused me issues with very close people, hence I became a victim of couch surfing without a stable form of shelter worth calling home.Homelessness is an extremely difficult and very touchy topic that requires a sense of
understanding, from those who seek to alleviate its effects on today’s youth. As a very recent formerly homeless youth, I endured through my path of victories, opportunities, yet hardships, loneliness, and let downs. The struggles of being homeless and trying to abstract resources dedicated to me as a personal priority of those willing to serve me, rather than be a job related statistic for the purpose of credential building for organizations and programs was difficult. Waking up every day trying to remain confident in my capabilities wasn’t easy. Sometimes you feel like you want to be vulnerable and desperate, and deplete every cow of all of its milk that comes your way, but I would suddenly remember the realization that the single most valuable resource that I could ever obtain was my independence. I didn’t allow organizations to work for me, but instead I allowed them to work with me to accomplish goals I set up for myself knowing I wasn’t “entitled” to the “extra” help. It got lonely and cold at night without a single “I love you!” or “Your important!” to cherish from a long day full of interactions with people claiming to be your support, and sleeping in my car, living in awkward situations with people who didn’t really want me
around, and lacking the finances to survive on my own didn’t make it any better. The fight for food just to feel physically satisfied was tough but never the less; I worked hard and spent entire days trying to strategize for what came next for me. All while I was homeless, I got employed at Chickfilahaving built a personal relationship with the owner, also employed at the University of Maryland Medical Center, I spoke out to groups blind of what it meant to be homeless and without the financial means to survive. Now being on the flip side of being homeless I am anticipating being on the Baltimore City Board of Youth Commissioners, I do have food stamps, I rent a room, and attend various community and private meetings pushing for change and opportunity amongst today’s young people. My strategy of rising above and beyond my circumstances were networking, relationship building, and my integrity. I have great faith in programs such as JOY Baltimore, which I am apart of, to do a great deal of commendable work in the Baltimore City community. Being on Joy Baltimore’s youth advisory board is an honor and a privilege, in the sense that I am willing and available to be a voice for homeless youth who need access to very important resources and support.
Tremaine at graduation day
“I’m light skinned, and used to lean on that because that’s something a lot of black people pride themselves on, and it’s weird.”
-Chance the Rapper
Youth and the Foster CareSystem
JOY Baltimore, May 2017
∙ Assisted (3) youth to obtain Affordable health care ∙ Assisted (2) youth with obtaining their Social Security Card ∙ Registered (4) youth in Baltimore City Youth Works ∙ Assisted and Enrolled (1) youth in Woodland Job Corps in Culinary Arts & Hotel Management been in for one year to date, and they are one credit away from a Maryland High School Diploma also obtained his safe serve ∙ Located (3)
full time job placement ∙ Conducted a Domestic Violence Workshop For Youth (8) teens ages 13-22 ∙ Currently assisting (4) youth for their senior prom ∙ Participating in the Maryland Youth Reach conducting surveys of (50) homeless youth ∙ Worksite Sponsor for Youth Works 2017 for (20) youth for a period of ten summer weeks
JOY Baltimore is devoted to helping the youth of Baltimore meet their individual
Any youth ages 14-21 interested in working this summer, contact:
YOUTHWORKS101 W 24th StreetBaltimore, MD 21218(410) 545-1820
Youth WorksJoy Baltimore is proud to be a 2017 worksite sponsor with Youth Works. We will be hosting five youth for sessions 1and 2 with a total of ten youth for this summer. We plan to implement:
• Week 1 - Orientation• Week 2 - Banking• Week 3 - Education• Week 4 - Resume Writing• Week 5 - Career Day
Each topic is designed to help youth learn what is needed to help them become a successful adult. We hope that each participant will learn something that they can use in the future.
Photo by Redd Angelo
JOY Baltimore, May 2017
Lonnie Wayne Walker is a native of Brooklyn, New York where he grew up in Red Hook community. He attended Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina where he majored in Social Work. Mr. Walker would later attend the College of New Rochelle in New York City to continue his studies in Social Work.
Mr. Walker has extensive experience working with youth and young adults over the past thirty years. As a youth, he worked with the Police Athletic League (PAL) Miccio Youth Program in Red Hook, Brooklyn. In 1999, Mr. Walker founded The New Millennium After-School and Camp where he served over thirty youth in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. He would later relocate to Baltimore, Maryland in 2002 where he would become a Certified Therapeutic Foster Parent for over ten years, and continued to be a youth mentor for more than twenty years. Mr. Walker has also directed and managed several group homes in the Baltimore, Maryland area.
Seeing a crucial need not being met in his community, Mr. Walker began to work towards the formation of a program to better service the unique needs faced by disadvantaged and runaway homeless youth. In 2016, Just Our Youth (JOY) Baltimore was born. JOY Baltimore is a youth outreach program that provides a Youth Narcotics Anonymous (YNA) Program, GED Program, assistance with obtaining vital records, and meeting basic necessities (food, clothing and shelter).
“A Community Divided Will Never Be A Community United - JOY Baltimore”
Lonnie WalkerJOY Baltimore CEO
Meet Our CEO and Founder
LONNIE WALKER
Contact Information forLonnie Walker:
JOY Baltimore, May 2017
Meet Our Board President
LESLIE WRIGHTLeslie Wright is the Board Chair at Joy Baltimore and is responsible for and
serves as the chief volunteer for the organization. She helps guide and
mediate board actions with respect to Joy's organizational priorities and
governance concerns. Since joining Joy Baltimore she has coordinated
several of our fundraising activities, coordinated board meetings, assist on
Baltimore City Youth Fund Task Force.
A graduate of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, with a Masters in Human
Services. Leslie has over 32 years of experience in the mental health field.
Well qualified leader with a strong history of developing and maintaining
excellent work team, customer relationship, and community recognition
with a hands on management style. She is an advocate of team-oriented
working environment that demonstrate cohesion and unity.
Leslie began her Human Services career working at Rosewood Center, an
intermediate care facility for mental retardation, in Owings Mills, Maryland
where she worked in several rolls:
• Direct Care Worker: assisting disable clients with different levels of skills
to maintain daily living skills.
• Cottage Manager: Assume lead worker responsibilities for direct care
workers. Primarily for insuring that each client individualized habilitation
plan was implemented and was in compliance with all relevant
regulatory standards. Building Supervisor: responsible for the 24hr
overall operation of a building which consisted of approximately 20-24
disable clients, 2 cottage managers, and 30 direct care workers.
• Unit Director: Provided administrative directions and monitoring of the
delivery of residential services on a 24hr basis to a unit of mentally
retarded adults in compliance with all relevant regulatory standards
including the Federal Health Care Financing Administration's Regulations
for Intermediate Care Facilities/Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR), Title XIX
(Medicaid) and Baltimore County Health Department regulations.
• General Supervisor: Assume administrative responsibility for the entire
operation of the facility in the absence of the Facility Director .Conduct
administrative investigation for any serious client injury or allegations of
abuse toward a client /staff. Document chronology of events, make
recommendations for administrative follow-up, and impose immediate
progressive disciplinary actions.
Contact Information forLeslie Wright:
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
Barak Obama
Upcoming EventsAPRIL29th Bushel of Crabs29thToiletry DriveBooster T-Shirt Drive
MAY3rd Fundraiser Night at Bob EvansProm Sponsor for Baltimore City High SchoolsYouth Works
JULYYouth Works
AUGUSTYouth WorksBingo Night FundraiserBack to School Bash
OCTOBER8th “You Make A Difference” Awards
NOVEMBERHomeless Youth Thanksgiving Dinner
DECEMBERClara’s Angels
JOY Baltimore, May 2017
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