Experiencing children grow and learn is the best gift a person can receive. It is my pleasure to host so many youth at Our Fortress Homes, as they develop skills that will impact them throughout their lives. My inspiration for Our Fortress Homes, Inc. came from my own experience of moving away from home. I had to learn to navigate through adversity and start a new life. I worked with visually impaired and hearing impaired children and from that experience I realized my passion was bringing a sense of comfort and stability to young people. I saw resilience in them and knew that overcoming challenges was possible with support and sense of community.

Our Fortress Homes, Inc. has been a haven for youth from the first day we opened our home in Northeast Baltimore. We have continued to grow with the same tenacity that we had in 2005. My personal mission for youth in foster care is to ensure them that despite barriers they face, they are precious and deserve to heal from trauma events that they experienced so early in their lives. I chose the name Our Fortress because it was fitting to the experience of pride, safety and home that I very much wanted for youth in our program. I am very proud of Our Fortress and it has taught me that a dedicated team of people can achieve wonderful possibilities for youth by simply showing up and being consistent.

The work is difficult but the reward is so great. Whether we have 1 girl or 8 in the house, I am committed to making sure that their time with us sets a foundation of stability. When they leave our program my hope is that they have gained life skills and confidence that will take them beyond their wildest dreams. I don’t always know how well our girls fare when they transition from the program, but I know that they are equipped with resilience and perseverance.

~ Lola Owoyemi, Chief Executive Officer