About
Who we are and what we believe.
Our mission
To equip Baltimore youth and young adults ages 11 through 24 with financial knowledge, career strategy, mentorship, professional exposure, negotiation skills, and asset-building discipline to increase economic mobility in historically underserved communities.
Our story
Edward J. Shepard, MBA, founded Building Generational Wealth Youth Program in 2026 on that belief.
In Baltimore, nearly 3 in 10 children grow up in poverty. We tell young people to save, to stay out of debt, to plan for the future. But few are ever shown how. Over 20 years in government, entertainment, and corporate business, Edward learned that success is built on knowledge, discipline, and the right people around you. So he set out to give Baltimore youth all three.
BGWYP teaches young people ages 11 to 24 how money, work, and ownership really function. They build real budgets, resumes, and plans for their future, with mentors who stay with them along the way.
We don't just expect more from our young people. We invest in them.
Educate. Empower. Elevate. Build Legacies.
Our values
Integrity
Economic empowerment
Youth safety
Community reinvestment
Generational vision
Our leadership
Edward J. Shepard, MBA
Founder, President & Executive Director
Edward J. Shepard, MBA, is the founder, President, and Executive Director of BGWYP and a strategist with more than 20 years of leadership across government, entertainment, and corporate business. As Founder and Principal Consultant of EJS Consulting Agency, he has advised more than 100 organizations on strategy, operations, finance, and workforce development, and he now brings that discipline to building generational wealth for Baltimore's young people.
Dr. Stacy Shepard
Secretary and Education Chair
Dr. Stacy Shepard is an award-winning educational leader with nearly two decades of experience in schools and community leadership. She serves as Executive Director-Superintendent of Evergreen Community Charter School and is the founder and CEO of AriseNOW. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Capella University. As Education Chair, she guides BGWYP's curriculum and education strategy.
Tamara Robinson
Treasurer and Finance Chair
Tamara Robinson serves as BGWYP's Treasurer and Finance Chair, leading the Board's financial stewardship and fiscal oversight.
Gerald Green
Procurement & Grants Chair
Gerald Green serves as BGWYP's Procurement & Grants Chair, guiding the organization's grant strategy and responsible procurement.
Ja-Mel Johnson
Chair, Governance Committee
Ja-Mel Johnson is Chief Operating Officer of the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, where he has also led human resources since 2021. He brings more than a decade of experience building strong systems and strong teams across Baltimore and New York. As Chair of the Governance Committee, he helps keep BGWYP's policies and Board practices strong.
Daniel M. Wilkins
Chair, Risk & Safeguarding Committee
Daniel M. Wilkins has served with the Federal Aviation Administration since 2013 as an Implementation Lead for deployment and logistics. His career includes leading security and access control for major national events and serving on Capitol Hill with the House Committee on Homeland Security. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill. As Chair of the Risk & Safeguarding Committee, he leads the Board's oversight of youth safety.
How we are run
An independent Board with committees for finance, education, grants, governance, and risk and safeguarding. Written policies on conflicts of interest and related parties. Executive Director pay set by disinterested directors.