LINK Strategic Partners’ Joe Houston, Jr. (AKA “Mr. WeFit”) Honored With Martha’s Table’s “Community Champion” Award
Malcolm X once wrote, "When you replace 'I' with 'We,' even illness turns into wellness." Joe Houston, Jr., LINK Creative Associate and founder of WeFit, credits this quote for shaping his mindset. As one of Houston’s many achievements, he is proud to have a five-year-long collaboration with Martha's Table, an organization that works to break the cycle of poverty through education and family support programs. Their “Community Champion” Award recognizes leaders with innovative approaches to addressing community problems. After being honored with the award, Houston says, “I am speechless - overwhelmed with love and grateful. I am aligned with their mission to make a massive impact, explicitly reducing health disparities in underserved communities.”
This commitment to community transformation is deeply personal for Houston, whose childhood dream of becoming an invincible superhero was driven by his vulnerability to trauma. He grew up without a father and was raised by his sister because his mother, struggling with health issues, passed away when he was only fourteen. He didn’t find support from peers who bullied him relentlessly or from discouraging teachers. It wasn’t until he was incarcerated at 16 that he met his first mentor, Mousey, who warned Houston that he would die if he didn’t get out of the destructive mentality that trapped him. Mousey also saw the potential in Houston that no one else had. This relationship was transformative; youth with mentors are 55% more likely to enroll in college and 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities (The Mentoring Effect).
A decade later, Houston founded WeFit, which has engaged over 10,000 residents in DC’s Wards 7 and 8, offering free, low-cost physical fitness classes and other community activities. His efforts have garnered widespread attention from the media and community leaders, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, who saw his vital work to uplift his community. He graduated from Georgetown University’s Pivot Program, and it was here that his relationship with LINK was first forged. Houston has been with LINK for three years, contributing to the production team’s stellar expertise and activating community partnerships. He inspires his coworkers to get moving during team meetings (Houston calls out, “Who fit?” and Team LINK responds, “We fit!”). At LINK, he is recognized as the go-to advisor on all things community well-being and fitness, critical quality of life indicators. In addition to running his organization and working at LINK, Houston is an actor, speaker, and trusted adviser in the realm of health disparity and community wellbeing, tirelessly using his platforms to catalyze change at the grassroots level. LINK Strategic Partners’ president Michael Akin says, “Joe is a true change maker. He continues to inspire through his unwavering commitment to community action and inclusivity." His admiration goes both ways, as Houston calls Akin a “transparent and trusting go-getter.”
Reflecting on his childhood journey and challenges, Houston emphasizes his commitment to uplifting youth in his community. When asked what he would say to his younger self, Houston answers, “It would be to gain exposure to what’s healthy for the body, mind, and spirit. It’s all connected, which I offer to my audiences. I provide an avenue for consistency and hope.” Houston is now committed to being the resource and mentor he longed for as a child, helping to pave the way for a brighter future through mentorship, collaboration, and a holistic approach to well-being.
