WOMEN TO WATCH

Marquita Rogers

Director of Development and External Relations
City Year Little Rock

My journey as a young adult included an AmeriCorps tenure focused on education, mentorship and community development. Currently, my position as the director of development and external relations for City Year Little Rock allows me to bridge the gap between CYLR and the community to create a city where every young person can prosper with access to resources and support.

PRESSING QUESTIONS

What keeps me coming back to my job every day

The Starfish Story motivates me to work with a sense of purpose, recognizing the power of small acts of kindness to impact someone's life significantly.

One practice I use to maintain my mental health

Take a guilt-free break. No plans are necessary. Recharge and see it as a different form of productivity.

How I knew this was my passion

I'm passionate about aiding underserved youth and young adults from resource-limited schools and communities. My AmeriCorps experience gave me a service-oriented mindset and heart for encouraging young people.

Biggest challenges in my career

My biggest career challenge was finding an environment where I could be my true self, and now I have finally found it.

What I learned from my first job

My experience as a recreation aid taught me the value of mentorship and tutoring in positively impacting youth, leading to a greater appreciation for community organizations that provide such opportunities.

Nonprofit I wish more people knew about

City Year is an organization that deserves more recognition. I believe this because of the significant impact the work our AmeriCorps members have on students in low-income communities.

Best career moment so far

Connecting young adults I previously worked with to national service in my current season has been my best career moment. It's rewarding to see them thrive and make a difference.

Best advice I ever received

“Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.” – Mae Jemison

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Hometown

Chandler, AZ

I can't start my day until

I have coffee

Hobbies

Reading and listening to music

Binge watch

“Black-ish”

Last good read

“Finding Me” by Viola Davis

Favorite meal in town

Gus’s Fried Chicken

Best recent local discovery

Platinum BBQ

Latest splurge

More toys for my niece

Most-used app

Libby

Dream vacation

Revisit Germany

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