(BALTIMORE – November 2, 2025) – BMORENews.com proudly presents the Black Wall Street NEW BALTIMORE — a dynamic celebration of Black excellence in business, entrepreneurship, and community leadership on Thursday, November 6, 2025 (6 pm-8 pm). As tradition holds, the centerpiece of the event will be the prestigious Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards, honoring trailblazers who are making meaningful impact in their industries and communities.
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Since 2011, BMORENews and its partners have recognized more than 2,900 leaders across 9 U.S. cities for their contributions to Black entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. This year, we’re excited to expand that legacy with the debut of the Black Wall Street Youth Awards — a new initiative designed to uplift and showcase the rising generation of Black changemakers, visionaries, and future business leaders.
Honorees include Edward Johnson Jr.
Who is Edward?
Edward Johnson, Jr., 38, was born and raised in the Harlem Park community, Zone 17, in West Baltimore, Maryland. A proud son of his neighborhood, Edward’s journey from the same streets, basketball courts, and schools that raised him to becoming one of Baltimore’s most dedicated youth mentors is a story of purpose, perseverance, and heart.
In 2014, Edward began his career in the Baltimore City Public School System, starting as a Hall Monitor at Baybrook Elementary/Middle School. He later joined Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts High School, where he served for four years as a Hall Monitor before advancing to Climate Control Specialist. During his time there, Edward became known not only for his professionalism and leadership but also for his ability to connect deeply with students. His compassion, mentorship, and steady presence made him someone young people trusted and looked up to.
Throughout his school years, Edward also coached multiple sports — including football, lacrosse, track and field, and girls’ badminton — using athletics as a platform to teach life lessons about teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. He later took his talents to Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy, an all-boys school, where he served as both Climate Control Specialist and Assistant Administrative Aide. There, he continued his mission of guiding and inspiring young men, helping them recognize their potential and purpose.
Even before stepping into education professionally, Edward had already made his mark as a coach and community mentor, investing in local youth and leading by example. His deep pride for his neighborhood and his natural ability to motivate others have always been at the center of his purpose.
In 2021, after leaving the school system, Edward founded his own nonprofit organization, “Give a Sole, Save a Soul.” Inspired by his lifelong calling to serve, he launched the first event on the same basketball court where he grew up playing — right in the heart of Harlem Park, Zone 17 — and has also hosted events at the elementary school he attended. What started as a small act of kindness grew rapidly into a citywide movement that has served thousands of children and families across Baltimore over the past five years.
Before partnering with DTLR, Edward had already collected over 1,000 pairs of shoes purely through neighborhood generosity. His model is simple and powerful: ask the community for wearable tennis shoes, and he personally cleans, restores, and prepares each pair himself — a hands-on commitment that shows every child they are worth the extra care.
Give a Sole, Save a Soul — Impact by Year (Pairs of Tennis Shoes Distributed):
• Year 1: 450 pairs
• Year 2: 2,300 pairs
• Year 3: 3,000 pairs
• Year 4: 3,500 pairs
• Year 5: 3,200 pairs
Through this foundation, Edward has led annual giveaways that include not only shoes but also free haircuts, food, and community resources. These events have become a beacon of love and hope — a place where families feel seen, supported, and valued. With strong community partnerships and Edward’s relentless drive, Give a Sole, Save a Soul embodies his message: when you give from the heart, you can change lives — one sole and one soul at a time.
Today, Edward continues his mission of mentorship and empowerment as a Life Coach with ROCA, a behavior-change organization that supports at-risk young men. In this role, he helps guide individuals toward stability, accountability, and personal growth — the same principles he’s lived by throughout his life.
For over a decade, Edward Johnson Jr. has been a pillar of the Harlem Park community. From the school hallways to the neighborhood courts, his life stands as proof that real change begins when you serve others with love, faith, and consistency. His story is one of giving, growth, and gratitude — the true spirit of Baltimore.
