Joseph attended high school at Baltimore’s Polytechnic Institute and studied for several years at Morgan State University before joining Baltimore Gas and Electric in March, 1980. He is proud of his 25-year tenure at BG&E, where he began his work life as a meter reader. In 2005, while serving as a trainer for BG&E, Joseph sustained an injury that led to back surgery and permanent disability.
Joseph was living in Randallstown, and he was reading and studying to prepare himself for a new phase in his life. “At that point, I didn’t think there was any program that could help me to own a home. But I was surfing the web one day and I came across an article about Habitat for Humanity.” Joseph called the office and attended the next orientation. His conclusion: “I can do this. This program is for me.”
When Joseph’s application went before Habitat’s Family Selection committee, he delivered a packet of information “several inches thick” to demonstrate that he had only declared bankruptcy as a result of medical bills; he continued to pay those bills. “I wanted to be honest and clear about my history, and I wanted to fully disclose my health challenges. Joseph was accepted into the program.
From his very first meeting, it was clear that Joseph was going to help other people change their lives, just as he was changing his. “This program is changing our lives forever. It gives us security, a sense of pride and belonging. For me, it’s a new sense of purpose—I can help myself and help other people as well.”
For his sweat equity, Joseph chose to help the staff and clients at A Moveable Feast—a non-profit organization that provides meals to medically fragile people in their homes. Volunteer Manager Tom Patrick says that Joseph was an extraordinary volunteer. “He came here and offered to do anything we needed. It was refreshing. He would work in the kitchen, deliver meals, work our events, whatever we needed to have done, he did. And he is so enthusiastic and personable, always that wonderful smile. He would even talk to people about volunteering with us.”
Joseph brings this same enthusiasm and energy to everything he does. Among his many favorite sayings, “Never settle for what life has to give you. Get up every day knowing what you want.” Joseph knew he wanted to own his own home, “It was a chance I wanted to take, and a journey worth making.” Welcome home Joseph; an exciting new journey is just beginning.
