Unleash Youth Power
Inspire. Mentor. Promote Achievement. Transform Character.
About Operation IMPACT, Inc.
Operation IMPACT, Inc. is a youth-focused nonprofit based in Norfolk, Virginia, dedicated to inspiring, mentoring, and promoting achievement and character transformation. We serve justice‑involved youth and young adults by providing structured support, workforce readiness, and personal development pathways that lead to long-term stability and success.
Founded by Jerry Johnson, a retired U.S. Naval Officer and community leader, Operation IMPACT exists to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity. Our programs are designed to build confidence, strengthen soft skills, and empower young people to make positive, sustainable life choices.
Operation IMPACT is committed to collaboration with families, schools, community partners, and local government to ensure every young person has access to guidance, mentorship, and a clear path forward.
Operation IMPACT is driven by a commitment to inspiring, mentoring, promoting achievement, and transforming character one young life at a time.
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Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,
Operation IMPACT was founded on a simple conviction: every young person — no matter their past or circumstances — deserves access to mentorship, opportunity, and people who genuinely believe in their potential. Our name reflects our purpose: Inspiring, Mentoring, Promoting Achievement, and Character Transformation.
Across Hampton Roads, our programs serve youth and young adults ages 12–24 through leadership development, life skills training, violence prevention, and our signature Credible Messenger Initiative (CMI). CMI places trained mentors with lived experience at the center of our work — individuals who understand the challenges our youth face because they have walked similar paths and emerged with resilience and purpose.
Our dedicated staff, credible messengers, volunteers, and community partners bring these programs to life every day. Their commitment ensures that young people receive the guidance, structure, and support needed to build stronger futures.
Operation IMPACT exists at a pivotal moment for Hampton Roads — a region full of promise yet marked by persistent disparities in youth outcomes and access to opportunity. We are here to change that, one mentorship relationship and one transformative program experience at a time.
Thank you to every partner, funder, mentor, and young person who continues to walk alongside us. Your belief in this mission fuels our work and strengthens our community.
With gratitude and unwavering commitment,
Jerry Johnson
President & Founder Operation IMPACT, Inc.