Today we’d like to introduce you to Joyson Balisamore
Hi Joyson, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in Baltimore, I was no stranger to the prevalence of illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart conditions common in urban communities of color–– all of which have been present in my family. After waking up with chest pain and being told my bloodwork showed signs of a heart attack– I knew I had to make changes to better care of my heart. That didn’t simply include going plant-based and starting an exercise regime, but dealing with grief of losing my mother to breast cancer at 14 and accepting the reality of my queerness both which I had greatly repressed for years. My personal experience with heart issues led to my journey of healing through holistic wellness, and now being an advocate for wellness through my work.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all; from witnessing my parents struggle financially to losing of my mother to breast cancer and subsequently enduring a decade-long struggle with addiction, life has been pretty rocky. Unfortunately but fortunately, these experiences have earned me a wide window of tolerance which prepared me for the uncertainties and adversities I’ve encountered since becoming a first-generation business owner.
Starting to exercise as an unathletic young adult was hard. Getting out of bed after facing crippling depression was extremely hard. Accepting the loss of my mother and my queer identity were once impossible to me. Now that I’m still young but a little older– I realize they were difficult because I tried to endure all of those difficult challenges alone. When I sought counseling for my loss, support for my healing, and guidance for my business, I found the support that made life much more manageable and positive outcomes much more possible.
One of the beautiful lessons my journey has taught me is that there are people willing and that want to support me, my wellness, and my business. While I’m sure I’ll face unpredictable challenges as I scale my business and fight for health equity, I am grateful to have the support that will help me along this journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of Jay’s Watermelonade, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Inspired by personal experience with pericarditis and my favorite fruit, I launched Jay’s Watermelonade with a mission to hydrate Baltimore in a refreshing and heart-healthy way. The brand’s signature watermelon lemonade is designed to provide a tasty alternative to sugary drinks. I always loved watermelon growing up, but had no clue that it contained healing compounds such as L-citrulline associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
In addition to providing a delicious product good for the heart in Baltimore where preventable conditions like heart disease have been a leading cause of mortality– even more so among African Americans– I hope to use Jay’s Watermelonade as a vehicle for economic empowerment and local partnership. This summer I had the joy of hiring youth as Summer Hydration Specialists through YouthWorks, a workforce development program that pairs city students with local organizations. I had an exciting collaboration on National Watermelon Day (August 3rd) with Taharka Brothers, one of several loved Baltimore-based brands with minority ownership I’ve had the pleasure of working with.
I’ve had many magical moments since going after my vision full-time last fall, but I would’ve never
anticipated ending up on digital billboards across Baltimore. After completing BOOST, Innovation Works’ bootcamp for social entrepreneurs, I was selected to be apart a campaign showcasing diverse changemakers throughout the city. The quote I submitted for the campaign sums up my entrepreneurial journey thus far: “Baltimore believed in my vision to promote hydration in a healthy way that captures the charm of our city.”
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
When I think of risk, I immediately think of investing in a poor performing stock (blame the years I spent studying stocks and business as a teenager) and then questionable substances that could lead to regretful decision making. But, I’ve learned risks can also be investments of time, money, and energy into something that may not succeed. Honestly, I didn’t consider the risks when starting my business. I started it out of passion for something I loved and the belief that it could lead to my financial freedom. Life already showed me it won’t go according to MY plan, but I’ve ended up pretty alright! My heart is quite content after all I’ve endured. I trust that things will all work out for good when you’re committed to doing good. But I also will plan strategically, research what has and hasn’t worked, and seek mentorship, because wisdom works.
Pricing:
- Jay’s Watermelonade Catering $2 – 5 per person for Baltimore-based businesses and orgs
- Youth Entrepreneurship & Juicing Workships Sliding Scale $150 – 300
- Joyson BaLisamore Speaking Engagements / Panel Member Free & Honorariums
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jayswatermelonade.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jayswatermelonade
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/JWatermelonade
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@jayswatermelonade
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jays-watermelonade-baltimore
