At J.O.Y. Baltimore (Just Our Youth), the mission runs deeper than service—it’s personal.
Founder and CEO Lonnie Walker knows the struggles of vulnerable youth because he lived them. Born and raised in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Lonnie turned his own experience with homelessness into a lifelong commitment to empowering at-risk youth with compassion, dignity, and hope.
Lonnie’s path wasn’t easy. Experiencing homelessness firsthand gave him a deep, unshakable understanding of the fear, loneliness, and instability so many young people face today.
Rather than let his struggles define him, Lonnie made them his purpose. In 2016, fueled by passion—and with nothing but an unemployment check—he founded J.O.Y. Baltimore to fight the growing crisis of youth homelessness in Baltimore City.
No grants. No outside funding. Just a vision: that no young person, no matter their background, gender identity, or circumstances, would be turned away.
At J.O.Y. Baltimore, we transform personal pain into purpose by empowering at-risk youth to survive, heal, and thrive. Through safe housing, mental health support, and career development, we build brighter futures for Baltimore’s most vulnerable young people. No one is ever turned away.
We envision a Baltimore where every young person—regardless of their past—has the opportunity, support, and hope to create a successful future. J.O.Y. Baltimore is committed to ending youth homelessness, one life at a time.
We believe in meeting every young person with dignity, empathy, and unconditional support. At J.O.Y. Baltimore, compassion fuels our mission to create safe spaces where at-risk youth are seen, heard, and empowered to heal and grow.
We transform adversity into opportunity. Through mentorship, housing, mental health care, and career development, we empower youth to build resilience, reclaim their futures, and thrive against all odds.
Every young person deserves to belong. J.O.Y. Baltimore welcomes all youth, regardless of background, identity, or circumstances—creating a community where diversity is celebrated and every voice matters.
