Good Neighbor Podcast: Pittsburgh
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Good Neighbor Podcast: Pittsburgh
E20: Accessing Community Lifelines: Civically Inc.'s Transformative Support in Wilkinsburg
What makes Marita Garrett with Civically Inc. a good neighbor?
Removing barriers isn't just a catchphrase for Marita Garrett and Civically Inc—it's a mission that's transformed Pittsburgh's East End for a decade.
When Marita founded Civically Inc as a councilwoman in Wilkinsburg, she recognized a fundamental truth: people facing immediate needs like hunger or lack of clothing couldn't meaningfully participate in civic life. This realization birthed a revolutionary approach to community service where anyone who can make it to their programs qualifies for help—no questions asked, no ID required.
"We want to meet and address the immediate needs of our community members so that we can promote civic education and literacy," Marita explains. From the Free Store Wilkinsburg (celebrating 10 years!) to the Fresh Market partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, to career development resources, Civically Inc addresses interconnected community challenges with a holistic approach.
Marita doesn't shy away from challenging industry norms, particularly the troubling expectation that nonprofit workers should struggle financially while serving others. "We're dealing with livelihood of humans," she points out, questioning why organizations addressing food access and housing aren't prioritized for full operational funding. Her perspective comes from lived experience—including overcoming ovarian cancer at just 20 years old—which taught her to focus on positive energy and intentional relationships.
Whether you can volunteer a few hours, donate items, share their social media posts, or contribute financially, Marita emphasizes that no contribution is too small. Visit civicallyinc.org to learn more about their services and discover how you can support their vital community work. After ten years of breaking barriers, they're just getting started.
To learn more about Civically Inc. go to:
www.civicallyinc.org
Civically Inc.
(412)916-4552
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Lila Carter.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a community support organization in the greater Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh East End region? One might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Marita Garrett, with Civically Incorporated Marita, how's it going?
Speaker 3:It's going all right. Lila, how are things going with you?
Speaker 2:Things great over here. Thanks so much. We're excited to learn all about you and the nonprofit, so tell us more about your organization you and the nonprofit.
Speaker 3:So tell us more about your organization. Yes, so again, thank you for the opportunity. But Civically Inc is a nonprofit organization where we are located in Wilkinsburg, but we service the greater Wilkinsburg and East End region. So ultimately what we say is if you can make it to our programs, then our programs are for you. We're here to remove barriers to access, which, especially in times such as these, is so needed.
Speaker 3:So a lot of folks are familiar with some of our flagship programs, like the free store Wilkinsburg, where we're actually celebrating our 10 year anniversary this year Time really just flies. And then we also have the Fresh Market, which is a partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, career Closet, civically Speaking so much more. And so one of the things that I'm a former elected and civic engagement and education has always been something so important to me. So when I was elected, you know I really wanted people to come out to council meetings, participate. Yet you also have to understand that if people don't have access to their immediate and daily needs, that's a barrier to civic engagement. So that's one of the things why it is called civically, you know, civically engaged, or being a civic ally, if you will kind of that play on words, but ultimately we want to meet and address the immediate needs of our community members so that we can promote civic education and literacy.
Speaker 2:Excellent. Wow, so many different services that you guys offer and congratulations on the 10 year anniversary. That's amazing. Yes, how did you get into this business, marita?
Speaker 3:It was a need filling a need. So, essentially, when I launched Civic League but starting with the free store in 2015, I was a councilwoman in Wilkinsburg. I was a councilwoman in Wilkinsburg and, similar to you know, what I shared was that my passion has been community development engagement. Prior to being in politics I did outreach for the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Pitt. So I've always had that call to service. You know, making a community better, doing my part, making my community better, all of those things kind of reaching a convergent point. So when the free store started in 2015, it did just start, you know, for that, every once a week, come get what you need, those different items.
Speaker 3:But, as you know, you get into something. You start looking more at the root, like what is the root for why we have high levels of poverty, illiteracy, the different things of that sort. And then you start kind of you know, or how I operate is that one problem begets another problem, which begets another problem, and wanting to solve that, because to me, all of these issues are cyclical. So why aren't folks civically engaged? They don't have basic access to their needs, which includes food, fresh produce, hence the fresh market. What about workforce development, career training. Enter our career closet, where we partner with a career counselor who comes out once a month to do office hours counselor who comes out once a month to do office hours.
Speaker 3:And so when I think of sustainability in a healthy community, I think of one that has self-sufficiency and self-reliance. So to me, it's even. You know, you're probably hearing me say a lot in times like these, but you know, just with the different things that are happening federally and locally, that the need for community and for us to really band together is even stronger now than it has been before. So I you know, on one hand, yes, I would love to solve the world's problems where we wouldn't have poverty and things like that sort. Yet this is where we're at. So, civically, through our multifaceted approach and programming, we're trying to do what we can with what we have to maximize our impact so that we can eliminate some of those disparities.
Speaker 2:That's a gem. I'm so glad that you said that it's really about working with what you have where you are and doing what you can. What are some myths or misconceptions in your industry?
Speaker 3:Where do I start, lila? Okay, I got a laundry list, let's start. Here's my favorite there's this myth that people and nonprofit should not make living wages and should struggle. And it's kind of crazy, right? Because you would think that the industries, especially nonprofits, that deal directly with community, community service, direct support, that those would be really fully funded, because we are dealing with livelihood of humans, of people. We're talking about food access, housing, all those different things. Yet somehow, somehow there's this idea that nonprofit leaders, staff, should not be fully funded.
Speaker 3:So one you know, one thing is that and I'm hopefully starting to see the tide change I know a couple of local foundations here have changed it. But when you apply for funding, they don't want to fund operations, they just want to fund programs. But it's like well, how do you think those programs happen? Because you have to fund the people to make it happen. But we have no problem giving multi-million corporations tax breaks and all of these different things. But yet, when it comes to nonprofits, this is oh, we don't want you to make too much, but what is too much? What about just a living wage and then some, because this is really nonprofit work, it's heart's work.
Speaker 3:You know somebody who doesn't align with their mission or purpose. They're not going to last long in here because it's gr's heart's work. You know somebody who's this doesn't align with their mission or purpose. They're not going to last long in here because it's rolling. When you get the news, a daily of you know is this getting funded? What got slashed, this, that and the other? You really have to like lean into your why and your purpose of why you're doing that and if you're not genuine to that it's, it's going to show through. You can't this, but I would say that's a biggest, whether that's a biggest myth, whether that's the biggest thorn in my side. I'm just throwing that out there.
Speaker 2:Right. It's like you have to really dig deep into your why and, yeah, a lot of times the hard reality is is that many nonprofits struggle with funding, and so I think it's important that we highlight that, especially whenever we're trying to fortify neighborhoods that are underserved. Who are your target market and how do you attract them?
Speaker 3:Our target market is pretty simple People breathing when removing the barriers to access. We don't ask for ID, we don't ask for different things. We don't keep a log of you know if you came. However, we try to remove tracking so people can just come get what they need. Now you know there's things like our fresh market. We may ask zip code because we're just trying to see who all we service and wait, obviously, for grant funding. They want some of that data. But you know our target market is if you are an individual and you don't have to be.
Speaker 3:You know there's kind of this, so I guess maybe another misconception. You know there's kind of this, so I guess maybe another misconception. Like whatever a person in need looks like, but to me, especially with COVID, we're all kind of one emergency crisis away from something. So it doesn't have to. You don't have to look a certain way or present a certain way. If you need something we have, or need to access our services and you can make it out to our programs, then we're servicing you.
Speaker 3:So there's not really like a target market, it's just. This is what we're in the work for community and citizens and really word of mouth is how we've gotten the word out about our services and how we've been around for 10 years. I mean, we do have a social media presence website, but a lot of times it's folks saying like, hey, I just went to the free store Wilkinsburg, I was able to get this, or you know, they have this resource here, and then I was able to get food on the first Fridays of the month. So it's word of mouth. Again, we do share and things of that sort on social media and using digital marketing, but really it's the word of mouth from community members who we've serviced.
Speaker 2:So we know that marketing is the heart of the business and how we're getting people in the door. Have you guys ever thought about maybe starting your own podcast? Have you guys ever thought about maybe starting your own podcast?
Speaker 3:We absolutely have and that's something that is in the works. We have discussed that. Actually, a few years ago there was like a pilot for Civically Speaking, supposed to be a web TV show. We're going to do that in a podcast format and we also have partnership with Connect that in a podcast format. And we also have partnership with Connect where we're going to work on a local TV show called we Love Govs which humanizes local government and kind of removes the red tape around local government and getting people more educated and aware into what does that look like, so that it doesn't have this big, like you know, government scary.
Speaker 3:You know a lot of misconceptions come from lack of education and awareness. So we're really trying to bridge that gap. So I'm glad that you mentioned that. Once that is launched I definitely will um let you and your um audience know, but that is definitely something in the work. Another thing is capacity. It ties into kind of the nonprofit struggle is. You know, a lot of times the person you're talking to is the day-to-day president, ceo, outreach, things of that sort. So being able to partner with other organizations to maximize our outreach in addition to our message is so pertinent and I'm happy that we're starting to make inroads to have that produced soon.
Speaker 2:In this line of work, things can feel heavy day to day, right, but what do you do for fun, rita?
Speaker 3:What do I do for fun? My dogs. I'm a fur parent so I have my fur baby, so spending time with them I think pets are absolutely therapeutic and their family members. I also have been getting back into reading, um, especially since education on so many different levels is key. So I do. You know we have to stay tuned to what is going on, but overconsumption is a real thing. So I definitely have been actively working on reducing screen time and the mental health benefits for that are amazing. So getting back into reading and then spending more time with friends like being intentional with that time. So I would say those are kind of my things to do for fun. And tapping into my inner child. So I do vision boards, collages. It just makes me feel good. You know, you get a glue stick out. It's back to being like eight or nine again.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's great, yeah, so let's switch gears here. Can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you overcame and how it made you stronger? What comes to mind?
Speaker 3:that you overcame and how it made you stronger. What comes to mind? So? So many, but one that I'll share, that a lot of people may not realize because it was before I was a public figure, but at the age of 20, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and so I still think, you know, thirties, fort, 40s, 50s is young. So when I think back to like being 20 and having a diagnosis such as that, realizing like you know, wow, you were still kind of just like a baby just getting started. Thankfully it was early stage. I've been in remission since then, no reoccurrences, really grateful for the care team that I have.
Speaker 3:But in that challenge, recognizing the outlook you have to have on things I could have very easily gone into, you know, woe is me, why me? You know things of that sort. But it was kind of just like well, why not me? You know, and I'm a person of faith, so leaning into my faith and, you know, just trusting what God had in store for me. But the outlook and I, you know I actually I'm happy it happened early in my life because that set the tone for kind of how I look at things in the rest of my life, really being intentional about who I'm with the energy around me, because those were things I needed to do to get through, you know, having that diagnosis, going through chemo, feeling weak, all of those other things and I've just continuously kept that. I'm one of those people.
Speaker 3:Before it was like popular to put on a poster or, you know, find it at your local home goods I was all good vibes, only like, don't bring negative energy whatever around me.
Speaker 3:I'm going to need all the energy I need to move forward and just continuing that. So I would say that definitely started kind of the tenacity that I have and also recognizing, you know, given the context of all that's going on, you can't really sweat the small stuff. You really can't sweat the small stuff because there's going to be so many battles, there's going to be so many wars, different things we have to face. So you really got to take inventory of like, okay, is this worth like going all out for, and just kind of again just weighing, what energy do you want to expend into your life and who do you want to hang around you, who do you want pouring into you, you know? So I would say that's kind of what started. Again, there's been more challenges and hardships, but that one I also attribute to kind of just like my mindset and trying to have positive outlooks and all that I do.
Speaker 2:Well, I know I speak for a lot of people whenever I say that we're really glad that you're here, Marita, and that you overcame that, and whenever you take a step back and you look at the way that God is using you in this life, I think it's spectacular, so um. Marita let's tell our listeners one thing that they should remember, one thing that should stick with them about civically.
Speaker 3:One thing that should stick out about civically is um, we can't do this work without them, and I think what volunteerism or supporting a nonprofit like ourselves, but specifically civically can look like so many different things. It can be volunteering for a couple hours, it can be donating items. It can be just sharing our posts to get the word around. It can be donating items. It can be just sharing our post to get the word around. It can be donating. There's so many different ways that folks can get involved and that you can choose how you want to get involved. And because of the community, we're still here and we continue to still sustain. So I think that's kind of my takeaway that no, no give is too small and whatever that may be time, financial, sharing our posts, things of that sort nothing is too small excellent and how can our listeners learn more about civically?
Speaker 3:you can visit us, our website, civicallyincorg. We're also on linkedin, facebook, instagram, civically inc. You can sign up when you go to our website. Sign up for our newsletters, um, and you know, just our e-blast and stay tuned. We will be having different activities to celebrate 10 years, because we still got to find the joy. We have to find the joy, and so the fact that we're still here 10 years is a joyous occasion and we want to celebrate that with all of you.
Speaker 2:Outstanding Well, Marita, I really appreciate your time today and having you as a guest on our show. We wish you and the organization the best moving forward.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much, Lila, for having me. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnppittsburghcom. That's gnppittsburghcom, or call 412-561-9956.