The NEED Podcast

How A Community Turned Medgar Evers’ Legacy Into 50,000 College Journeys

• Dr. Marcia Sturdivant • Episode 13

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What Does NEED Stand For And Why Was It Founded?

A single phone call turned grief into momentum. When Marian Jordan heard that Medgar Evers had been assassinated in 1963, she teamed up with Florence Reizenstein and organized a benefit dinner that changed the trajectory for 76 students. That night became the seed of NEED, a scholarship and mentorship engine that has since propelled more than 50,000 African American students into and through college.

We sit down with Dr. Marcia Sturdivant, President and CEO of NEED—and a former NEED recipient—to unpack how a local act of courage grew into a national network of alumni, mentors, and partners. Dr. Sturdivant traces the early support from leaders like Sargent Shriver and A. Philip Randolph, explains why the organization shortened its original name while staying true to its mission, and shares the traditions that keep alumni returning as donors and champions. From the annual scholarship dinner to year-round advising, she shows how financial aid, guidance, and community turn access into completion and careers.

The results are measurable and moving. A recent study found NEED alumni in 48 states achieving closer economic parity within their professions, narrowing gaps through education, internships, and social capital. We explore how leadership continuity, student-centered programs, and a no-frills motto—“we outperform”—drive outcomes without chasing competition. If you care about equity, mentoring, and the power of local action to scale nationally, this conversation offers a blueprint for impact you can join today.

Subscribe to stay connected, share this story with someone who believes in education, and leave a review to help others find the show. Ready to act? Apply, volunteer, or partner at www.needld.org, email needph@gmail.com, or call 412-566-2760.

To learn more about NEED visit:
https://www.NEEDLD.org
NEED
429 Fourth Avenue, 20th FL, Suite 2000
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-566-2760



SPEAKER_01:

Welcome to the Need Podcast, highlighting students, partners, and advocates. Presented by me and hosted by Dr. Marcia Sturdivent, President and CEO, this series highlights the impact of mentoring, philanthropy, and collaborative partnerships that empower students' triumphant entry into and progression through higher education. Whether you're applying for scholarships or supporting the mission, you'll find insights that inform, inspire, and empower.

SPEAKER_02:

Behind every great mission is a powerful origin story. Let's explore how Need began. Welcome everyone. I'm Julie Schwenzer, your co-host and producer in the studio with Dr. Marcia Sturtevant, president and CEO of NEED.

unknown:

Dr.

SPEAKER_02:

Sturtavan, it's always a pleasure to be with you. Thank you for joining us.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02:

So, what does NEED stand for and why was it founded?

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. The acronym NEED stands for Negro Educational Emergency Drive. And we have to look at the time that NEED was founded. And it was in 1963. So we no longer use the complete acronym, and we just call ourselves NEED. Here in Pittsburgh, there was a young woman who was concerned about the education of children. And she had also worked very closely with Medgar Evers. And as we know, or maybe some people don't know, Medgar Evers was just a prolific civil rights leader. And he was fighting very hard for equal rights, such as voting, the ability to vote. He also wanted people to be able to go to any college that they chose to. And Medgar Evers, unfortunately, was assassinated one evening. After a night of advocating and trying to register people for voting, he came home and uh there was a person waiting for him in the bushes at his own home. And uh he came out as uh Medgar Evers uh and was uh exiting his car, and uh the uh man killed Medgar Evers. He uh shot him, assassinated him. And I'm hesitating because I don't want to give um that person uh any credit. You know, uh we know what his name was, but he was uh member of the local Ku Klux Klan. Anyway, he uh Megar Evers was um shot and killed in his own driveway, getting out of his car. Uh his wife and children were present. And, you know, I hear so many things about oh, so-and-so was assassinated, and they were, you know, his wife were there or people were there. Well, so was Metcar Evers' family, and our families are just as important as anyone else. But I digress. Anyway, uh Metgar Evers uh didn't die immediately, apparently when he was taken to the hospital in the ambulance. At one point, he sat up and said, Let me loose. And that was giving others the charge to continue his work. And that's where need came into play. Uh, a lady here by the name of Marian Jordan, like I said, she was a young, up-and-coming advocate for people who were disempowered. And when she uh heard about her former colleague's assassination, she became determined, more determined, to continue his legacy of having African-American students who wanted to go to college to be able for that to happen for them. And she called uh another person here by the name of Florence Reisenstein, which, if you're from Pittsburgh, Reisenstein uh is a very popular name. It was a uh, it's no longer there physically there, but it was a name of a large um school here in Pittsburgh. Anyway, uh Marion Jordan and Florence Reisenstein got together and they began to call and invite people to uh attend a benefit dinner in order to raise money to send African American children to school. And everyone from all over the country pretty much came. Uh, Sergeant Shriver, if you know history, he was one of the attendees. A. Philip Randolph was uh one of the attendees who came to Pittsburgh, and that evening they raised money enough to send 76 African American children to college. And um wow, it's just an unbelievable story. But we've continued that work, and every year we have a benefit dinner. This year, and well, in 2026, it'll be our 63rd annual scholarship dinner, but we've sent over 50,000 students to college as a result of the sacrifice uh and that Megar Evers made and his legacy and the continuation of the dream through Mary and Jordan and Florence Risenstein.

SPEAKER_02:

And how did you find yourself in this role? I mean, I know you have a deep education, a deep, you know, great professional background. What led you to Need, or how did Need find you?

SPEAKER_00:

Wow, that's interesting. Um Need is a great place to work for. And because I think we have such a positive image in our community, there have only there's only been a few presidents and CEOs of Need. Uh one of them was Chuck Cooper, who was the first black NBA player. Um, and we've had one, two others after that. Uh unfortunately, the previous president and CEO, Dr. Sylvester Pace, passed away. And there was uh a need for someone to come and lead the uh continue the legacy. And um I was called and uh came willingly because I am a former need recipient myself, and I know uh what the benefit is uh of having someone who supports you and um does it whatever they can do. So I was so pleased to be able to come here and uh work with uh the existing programs, create new programs, and it's just been a joy. So you don't really need you don't leave need, you just continue the work that's been going on for 1963, and that that's why I'm here.

SPEAKER_02:

Congratulations on being a recipient. I did not know that. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, yes. Many years ago I was a recipient, and I never forgot that. As many of our alums do, uh, they don't forget that the service that need is provided uh for them. And if you're from Pittsburgh, Indigenous to Pittsburgh, African American descendants went on to college, nine times out of ten, there was need was there in some capacity to help your journey.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, and you're a prime example of the role that alumni play in like shaping the growth and the continued development of this organization. What about um your fellow alumni? Is everybody, would you say most of the um alumni of need are heavily involved today in some capacity?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, most of our volunteers are need, former need recipients. And uh, like I said, when we have our annual scholarship dinner, which brings about 600 people, uh, gather 600 people, many of them are former need recipients. They'll uh come, support the cause, donate, and volunteer. We also have uh awards that are given not just to our students, but also to community members, and they generally are former need recipients from judges, musicians, attorneys, uh police officers, uh, teachers. It runs the whole game. And if you can think of any profession, uh black professional from Pittsburgh that went to college out of Pittsburgh, they probably were a need recipient, and they haven't forgotten. And we depend very heavily on that population that can help continue our work.

SPEAKER_02:

That was uh that's wonderful. And I know you touched on this a bit, but if you could expand on it, how do you think the meaning of need has evolved as the program has expanded across not just like Western Pennsylvania, but I think you mentioned too that it, you know, we're crossing over into different states as well.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, yes. Uh, we did a study a few years back, and a data scientist found that out of the 50 states, we have alum need alum in 48. And like I said, from every walk of life. I can't think of a bigger impact on a small program such as what we are, that has had a larger impact, not on just on the advancement of African Americans from Pittsburgh, but also African Americans across this country. And when we think about, uh, and we've done this study, when we think about parity, if you are a need recipient, the uh research shows that you are at a higher socioeconomic status than, say, the general African-American public. You are more likely to be at parity with people of another racial background in the same profession. There's still a gap because we know, you know, there's always a gap between, you know, the races. But we've closed the gap and we continue to close that gap because of the opportunities that our students have to advance their knowledge, their education, and their careers. And with that, we've had a tremendous impact, not just here locally, but across, like I said, across the country, where people are of alum from need are doing better than African Americans from the general public. Um, and we haven't, we're we're not bragging or trying to separate that at all, but we understand the importance of education and how we can change your life. We also know, and this is one of our themes for this year's dinner, we aren't necessarily trying to compete. We outperform, which is more uh of the legacy that we have the best and brightest alum, uh people in every walk of profession, as well as our students generally outperform their peers, regardless of their racial background.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, thank you, Dr. Certivant, for sharing all this information and this inspiring journey of needs and the origins. I really appreciate your time as always.

SPEAKER_00:

Uh well, thank you so much, and thank you for giving us a continued voice.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you for listening to the Need Podcast. To apply for scholarships, access support, or learn how you or your organization can get involved, visit www.needld.org. Email needph at gmail.com or call 412 566 2760. Need unlocking the power of education for students, families, and the future of our region.