MSW/COSA student Morgan Overton has been named one of the Pittsburgh Business Times' 30 under 30, 2019 . She is working at the Women and Girls Foundation, as a Program Associate for GirlGov, their youth civic engagement program where she organizes the program, develops, and facilitates the curriculum, which teaches high school girls advocacy, community organizing, government, and leadership.
Her community involvement has spanned a few years. She just graduated as a fellow with Pittsburgh’s chapter of New Leaders Council - a 6 month training in politics, policy, community organizing. Prior to that, she was an intern in Mayor Peduto’s Office of Community Affairs.
Her first year field placement was with the Homewood Children’s Village, where she was a K-5 mentor and taught a Social Action curriculum and mindfulness. Her COSA placement will be with State Representative Jake Wheatley.
She also paints in her spare time. She was recently a featured artist at the August Wilson Center for an event called Black Women In Art. "Through my art, I aim to use it as a platform to speak on social issues" said Overton. "In March, after the verdict on the Antwon Rose II case, I painted a picture of Antwon and used it as a fundraiser. I raised over $700 that I donated directly to his family." Her work has been featured across Pittsburgh, and currently in a James Baldwin exhibit in St. Paul de Vence, France.
Painting of ballerina Misty Copeland
Painting of Antwon Rose