July 18, 2025 • 17 mins
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
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lila Carter.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a communitysupport organization in the
greater Wilkinsburg andPittsburgh East End region?
One might be closer than youthink.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
Marita Garrett, with CivicallyIncorporated Marita, how's it
going?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
It's going all right.
Lila, how are things going withyou?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Things great over here.
Thanks so much.
We're excited to learn allabout you and the nonprofit, so
tell us more about yourorganization you and the
nonprofit.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So tell us more about your organization.
Yes, so again, thank you forthe opportunity.
But Civically Inc is anonprofit organization where we
are located in Wilkinsburg, butwe service the greater
Wilkinsburg and East End region.
So ultimately what we say is ifyou can make it to our programs
, then our programs are for you.
We're here to remove barriersto access, which, especially in
(01:08):
times such as these, is soneeded.
So a lot of folks are familiarwith some of our flagship
programs, like the free storeWilkinsburg, where we're
actually celebrating our 10 yearanniversary this year Time
really just flies.
And then we also have the FreshMarket, which is a partnership
with the Greater PittsburghCommunity Food Bank, career
(01:31):
Closet, civically Speaking somuch more.
And so one of the things thatI'm a former elected and civic
engagement and education hasalways been something so
important to me.
So when I was elected, you knowI really wanted people to come
out to council meetings,participate.
(01:51):
Yet you also have to understandthat if people don't have
access to their immediate anddaily needs, that's a barrier to
civic engagement.
So that's one of the things whyit is called civically, you
know, civically engaged, orbeing a civic ally, if you will
kind of that play on words, butultimately we want to meet and
(02:11):
address the immediate needs ofour community members so that we
can promote civic education andliteracy.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Excellent.
Wow, so many different servicesthat you guys offer and
congratulations on the 10 yearanniversary.
That's amazing.
Yes, how did you get into thisbusiness, marita?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
It was a need filling a need.
So, essentially, when Ilaunched Civic League but
starting with the free store in2015, I was a councilwoman in
Wilkinsburg.
I was a councilwoman inWilkinsburg and, similar to you
know, what I shared was that mypassion has been community
development engagement.
Prior to being in politics Idid outreach for the Alzheimer's
(02:53):
Disease Research Center in Pitt.
So I've always had that call toservice.
You know, making a communitybetter, doing my part, making my
community better, all of thosethings kind of reaching a
convergent point.
So when the free store startedin 2015, it did just start, you
(03:13):
know, for that, every once aweek, come get what you need,
those different items.
But, as you know, you get intosomething.
You start looking more at theroot, like what is the root for
why we have high levels ofpoverty, illiteracy, the
different things of that sort.
And then you start kind of youknow, or how I operate is that
(03:36):
one problem begets anotherproblem, which begets another
problem, and wanting to solvethat, because to me, all of
these issues are cyclical.
So why aren't folks civicallyengaged?
They don't have basic access totheir needs, which includes
food, fresh produce, hence thefresh market.
What about workforcedevelopment, career training.
Enter our career closet, wherewe partner with a career
(04:00):
counselor who comes out once amonth to do office hours
counselor who comes out once amonth to do office hours.
And so when I think ofsustainability in a healthy
community, I think of one thathas self-sufficiency and
self-reliance.
So to me, it's even.
You know, you're probablyhearing me say a lot in times
like these, but you know, justwith the different things that
(04:21):
are happening federally andlocally, that the need for
community and for us to reallyband 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 wewouldn't have poverty and things
like that sort.
Yet this is where we're at.
(04:42):
So, civically, through ourmultifaceted approach and
programming, we're trying to dowhat we can with what we have to
maximize our impact so that wecan eliminate some of those
disparities.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
That's a gem.
I'm so glad that you said thatit's really about working with
what you have where you are anddoing what you can.
What are some myths ormisconceptions in your industry?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Where do I start, lila?
Okay, I got a laundry list,let's start.
Here's my favorite there's thismyth that people and nonprofit
should not make living wages andshould struggle.
And it's kind of crazy, right?
Because you would think thatthe industries, especially
(05:33):
nonprofits, that deal directlywith community, community
service, direct support, thatthose would be really fully
funded, because we are dealingwith livelihood of humans, of
people.
We're talking about food access, housing, all those different
things.
Yet somehow, somehow there'sthis idea that nonprofit leaders
(05:56):
, staff, should not be fullyfunded.
So one you know, one thing isthat and I'm hopefully starting
to see the tide change I know acouple of local foundations here
have changed it.
But when you apply for funding,they don't want to fund
operations, they just want tofund programs.
But it's like well, how do youthink those programs happen?
Because you have to fund thepeople to make it happen.
(06:18):
But we have no problem givingmulti-million corporations tax
breaks and all of thesedifferent things.
But yet, when it comes tononprofits, this is oh, we don't
want you to make too much, butwhat is too much?
What about just a living wageand then some, because this is
really nonprofit work, it'sheart's work.
(06:41):
You know somebody who doesn'talign with their mission or
purpose.
They're not going to last longin here because it's gr's
heart's work.
You know somebody who's thisdoesn't align with their mission
or purpose.
They're not going to last longin here because it's rolling.
When you get the news, a dailyof you know is this getting
funded?
What got slashed, this, thatand the other?
You really have to like leaninto your why and your purpose
of why you're doing that and ifyou're not genuine to that it's,
(07:03):
it's going to show through.
You can't this, but I would saythat's a biggest, whether
that's a biggest myth, whetherthat's the biggest thorn in my
side.
I'm just throwing that outthere.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Right.
It's like you have to reallydig deep into your why and, yeah
, a lot of times the hardreality 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 thatare underserved.
Who are your target market andhow do you attract them?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Our target market is pretty simple People breathing
when removing the barriers toaccess.
We don't ask for ID, we don'task for different things.
We don't keep a log of you knowif you came.
However, we try to removetracking so people can just come
get what they need.
Now you know there's thingslike our fresh market.
(08:03):
We may ask zip code becausewe'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 marketis if you are an individual and
you don't have to be.
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 needlooks like, but to me,
(08:28):
especially with COVID, we're allkind of one emergency crisis
away from something.
So it doesn't have to.
You don't have to look acertain 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 ourprograms, then we're servicing
(08:48):
you.
So there's not really like atarget market, it's just.
This is what we're in the workfor community and citizens and
really word of mouth is howwe've gotten the word out about
our services and how we've beenaround for 10 years.
I mean, we do have a socialmedia presence website, but a
(09:09):
lot of times it's folks sayinglike, hey, I just went to the
free store Wilkinsburg, I wasable to get this, or you know,
they have this resource here,and then I was able to get food
on the first Fridays of themonth.
So it's word of mouth.
Again, we do share and thingsof that sort on social media and
using digital marketing, butreally it's the word of mouth
(09:31):
from community members who we'veserviced.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
So we know that marketing is the heart of the
business and how we're gettingpeople in the door.
Have you guys ever thoughtabout maybe starting your own
podcast?
Have you guys ever thoughtabout maybe starting your own
podcast?
Speaker 3 (09:45):
We absolutely have and that's something that is in
the works.
We have discussed that.
Actually, a few years ago therewas like a pilot for Civically
Speaking, supposed to be a webTV show.
We're going to do that in apodcast format and we also have
partnership with Connect that ina podcast format.
(10:06):
And we also have partnershipwith Connect where we're going
to work on a local TV showcalled we Love Govs which
humanizes local government andkind of removes the red tape
around local government andgetting people more educated and
aware into what does that looklike, so that it doesn't have
this big, like you know,government scary.
You know a lot of misconceptionscome from lack of education and
(10:29):
awareness.
So we're really trying tobridge that gap.
So I'm glad that you mentionedthat.
Once that is launched Idefinitely will um let you and
your um audience know, but thatis definitely something in the
work.
Another thing is capacity.
It ties into kind of thenonprofit struggle is.
You know, a lot of times theperson you're talking to is the
(10:53):
day-to-day president, ceo,outreach, things of that sort.
So being able to partner withother organizations to maximize
our outreach in addition to ourmessage is so pertinent and I'm
happy that we're starting tomake inroads to have that
produced soon.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
In this line of work, things can feel heavy day to
day, right, but what do you dofor fun, rita?
Speaker 3 (11:18):
What do I do for fun?
My dogs.
I'm a fur parent so I have myfur baby, so spending time with
them I think pets are absolutelytherapeutic and their family
members.
I also have been getting backinto reading, um, especially
since education on so manydifferent levels is key.
(11:40):
So I do.
You know we have to stay tunedto what is going on, but
overconsumption is a real thing.
So I definitely have beenactively working on reducing
screen time and the mentalhealth benefits for that are
amazing.
So getting back into readingand then spending more time with
(12:02):
friends like being intentionalwith that time.
So I would say those are kindof 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 stickout.
It's back to being like eightor nine again.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Oh, that's great, yeah, so let's switch gears here
.
Can you describe a hardship ora life challenge that you
overcame and how it made youstronger?
What comes to mind?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
that you overcame and how it made you stronger.
What comes to mind?
So?
So many, but one that I'llshare, that a lot of people may
not realize because it wasbefore I was a public figure,
but at the age of 20, I wasdiagnosed with ovarian cancer
and so I still think, you know,thirties, fort, 40s, 50s is
young.
So when I think back to likebeing 20 and having a diagnosis
(12:59):
such as that, realizing like youknow, wow, you were still kind
of just like a baby just gettingstarted.
Thankfully it was early stage.
I've been in remission sincethen, no reoccurrences, really
grateful for the care team thatI have.
But in that challenge,recognizing the outlook you have
(13:22):
to have on things I could havevery easily gone into, you know,
woe is me, why me?
You know things of that sort.
But it was kind of just likewell, why not me?
You know, and I'm a person offaith, so leaning into my faith
and, you know, just trustingwhat God had in store for me.
(13:43):
But the outlook and I, you knowI actually I'm happy it
happened early in my lifebecause that set the tone for
kind of how I look at things inthe rest of my life, really
being intentional about who I'mwith the energy around me,
because those were things Ineeded to do to get through, you
(14:04):
know, having that diagnosis,going through chemo, feeling
weak, all of those other thingsand I've just continuously kept
that.
I'm one of those people.
Before it was like popular toput on a poster or, you know,
find it at your local home goodsI was all good vibes, only like
, don't bring negative energywhatever around me.
(14:24):
I'm going to need all the energyI need to move forward and just
continuing that.
So I would say that definitelystarted kind of the tenacity
that I have and also recognizing, you know, given the context of
all that's going on, you can'treally sweat the small stuff.
You really can't sweat thesmall stuff because there's
(14:45):
going to be so many battles,there's going to be so many wars
, different things we have toface.
So you really got to takeinventory of like, okay, is this
worth like going all out for,and just kind of again just
weighing, what energy do youwant to expend into your life
and who do you want to hangaround you, who do you want
(15:06):
pouring into you, you know?
So I would say that's kind ofwhat started.
Again, there's been morechallenges and hardships, but
that one I also attribute tokind of just like my mindset and
trying to have positiveoutlooks and all that I do.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Well, I know I speak for a lot of people whenever I
say that we're really glad thatyou're here, Marita, and that
you overcame that, and wheneveryou take a step back and you
look at the way that God isusing you in this life, I think
it's spectacular, so um.
Marita let's tell our listenersone thing that they should
remember, one thing that shouldstick with them about civically.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
One thing that should stick out about civically is um
, we can't do this work withoutthem, and I think what
volunteerism or supporting anonprofit like ourselves, but
specifically civically can looklike so many different things.
It can be volunteering for acouple hours, it can be donating
(16:11):
items.
It can be just sharing ourposts to get the word around.
It can be donating items.
It can be just sharing our postto get the word around.
It can be donating.
There's so many different waysthat folks can get involved and
that you can choose how you wantto get involved.
And because of the community,we're still here and we continue
(16:32):
to still sustain.
So I think that's kind of mytakeaway that no, no give is too
small and whatever that may betime, financial, sharing our
posts, things of that sortnothing is too small excellent
and how can our listeners learnmore about civically?
(16:52):
you can visit us, our website,civicallyincorg.
We're also on linkedin,facebook, instagram, civically
inc.
You can sign up when you go toour website.
Sign up for our newsletters, um, and you know, just our e-blast
and stay tuned.
We will be having differentactivities to celebrate 10 years
(17:13):
, because we still got to findthe joy.
We have to find the joy, and sothe fact that we're still here
10 years is a joyous occasionand we want to celebrate that
with all of you.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Outstanding Well, Marita, I really appreciate your
time today and having you as aguest on our show.
We wish you and theorganization the best moving
forward.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Thank you so much, Lila, for having me.
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnppittsburghcom.
That's gnppittsburghcom, orcall 412-561-9956.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lila Carter.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a communitysupport organization in the
greater Wilkinsburg andPittsburgh East End region?
One might be closer than youthink.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
Marita Garrett, with CivicallyIncorporated Marita, how's it
going?
Speaker 3 (00:32):
It's going all right.
Lila, how are things going withyou?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Things great over here.
Thanks so much.
We're excited to learn allabout you and the nonprofit, so
tell us more about yourorganization you and the
nonprofit.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So tell us more about your organization.
Yes, so again, thank you forthe opportunity.
But Civically Inc is anonprofit organization where we
are located in Wilkinsburg, butwe service the greater
Wilkinsburg and East End region.
So ultimately what we say is ifyou can make it to our programs
, then our programs are for you.
We're here to remove barriersto access, which, especially in
(01:08):
times such as these, is soneeded.
So a lot of folks are familiarwith some of our flagship
programs, like the free storeWilkinsburg, where we're
actually celebrating our 10 yearanniversary this year Time
really just flies.
And then we also have the FreshMarket, which is a partnership
with the Greater PittsburghCommunity Food Bank, career
(01:31):
Closet, civically Speaking somuch more.
And so one of the things thatI'm a former elected and civic
engagement and education hasalways been something so
important to me.
So when I was elected, you knowI really wanted people to come
out to council meetings,participate.
(01:51):
Yet you also have to understandthat if people don't have
access to their immediate anddaily needs, that's a barrier to
civic engagement.
So that's one of the things whyit is called civically, you
know, civically engaged, orbeing a civic ally, if you will
kind of that play on words, butultimately we want to meet and
(02:11):
address the immediate needs ofour community members so that we
can promote civic education andliteracy.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Excellent.
Wow, so many different servicesthat you guys offer and
congratulations on the 10 yearanniversary.
That's amazing.
Yes, how did you get into thisbusiness, marita?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
It was a need filling a need.
So, essentially, when Ilaunched Civic League but
starting with the free store in2015, I was a councilwoman in
Wilkinsburg.
I was a councilwoman inWilkinsburg and, similar to you
know, what I shared was that mypassion has been community
development engagement.
Prior to being in politics Idid outreach for the Alzheimer's
(02:53):
Disease Research Center in Pitt.
So I've always had that call toservice.
You know, making a communitybetter, doing my part, making my
community better, all of thosethings kind of reaching a
convergent point.
So when the free store startedin 2015, it did just start, you
(03:13):
know, for that, every once aweek, come get what you need,
those different items.
But, as you know, you get intosomething.
You start looking more at theroot, like what is the root for
why we have high levels ofpoverty, illiteracy, the
different things of that sort.
And then you start kind of youknow, or how I operate is that
(03:36):
one problem begets anotherproblem, which begets another
problem, and wanting to solvethat, because to me, all of
these issues are cyclical.
So why aren't folks civicallyengaged?
They don't have basic access totheir needs, which includes
food, fresh produce, hence thefresh market.
What about workforcedevelopment, career training.
Enter our career closet, wherewe partner with a career
(04:00):
counselor who comes out once amonth to do office hours
counselor who comes out once amonth to do office hours.
And so when I think ofsustainability in a healthy
community, I think of one thathas self-sufficiency and
self-reliance.
So to me, it's even.
You know, you're probablyhearing me say a lot in times
like these, but you know, justwith the different things that
(04:21):
are happening federally andlocally, that the need for
community and for us to reallyband 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 wewouldn't have poverty and things
like that sort.
Yet this is where we're at.
(04:42):
So, civically, through ourmultifaceted approach and
programming, we're trying to dowhat we can with what we have to
maximize our impact so that wecan eliminate some of those
disparities.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
That's a gem.
I'm so glad that you said thatit's really about working with
what you have where you are anddoing what you can.
What are some myths ormisconceptions in your industry?
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Where do I start, lila?
Okay, I got a laundry list,let's start.
Here's my favorite there's thismyth that people and nonprofit
should not make living wages andshould struggle.
And it's kind of crazy, right?
Because you would think thatthe industries, especially
(05:33):
nonprofits, that deal directlywith community, community
service, direct support, thatthose would be really fully
funded, because we are dealingwith livelihood of humans, of
people.
We're talking about food access, housing, all those different
things.
Yet somehow, somehow there'sthis idea that nonprofit leaders
(05:56):
, staff, should not be fullyfunded.
So one you know, one thing isthat and I'm hopefully starting
to see the tide change I know acouple of local foundations here
have changed it.
But when you apply for funding,they don't want to fund
operations, they just want tofund programs.
But it's like well, how do youthink those programs happen?
Because you have to fund thepeople to make it happen.
(06:18):
But we have no problem givingmulti-million corporations tax
breaks and all of thesedifferent things.
But yet, when it comes tononprofits, this is oh, we don't
want you to make too much, butwhat is too much?
What about just a living wageand then some, because this is
really nonprofit work, it'sheart's work.
(06:41):
You know somebody who doesn'talign with their mission or
purpose.
They're not going to last longin here because it's gr's
heart's work.
You know somebody who's thisdoesn't align with their mission
or purpose.
They're not going to last longin here because it's rolling.
When you get the news, a dailyof you know is this getting
funded?
What got slashed, this, thatand the other?
You really have to like leaninto your why and your purpose
of why you're doing that and ifyou're not genuine to that it's,
(07:03):
it's going to show through.
You can't this, but I would saythat's a biggest, whether
that's a biggest myth, whetherthat's the biggest thorn in my
side.
I'm just throwing that outthere.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Right.
It's like you have to reallydig deep into your why and, yeah
, a lot of times the hardreality 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 thatare underserved.
Who are your target market andhow do you attract them?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Our target market is pretty simple People breathing
when removing the barriers toaccess.
We don't ask for ID, we don'task for different things.
We don't keep a log of you knowif you came.
However, we try to removetracking so people can just come
get what they need.
Now you know there's thingslike our fresh market.
(08:03):
We may ask zip code becausewe'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 marketis if you are an individual and
you don't have to be.
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 needlooks like, but to me,
(08:28):
especially with COVID, we're allkind of one emergency crisis
away from something.
So it doesn't have to.
You don't have to look acertain 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 ourprograms, then we're servicing
(08:48):
you.
So there's not really like atarget market, it's just.
This is what we're in the workfor community and citizens and
really word of mouth is howwe've gotten the word out about
our services and how we've beenaround for 10 years.
I mean, we do have a socialmedia presence website, but a
(09:09):
lot of times it's folks sayinglike, hey, I just went to the
free store Wilkinsburg, I wasable to get this, or you know,
they have this resource here,and then I was able to get food
on the first Fridays of themonth.
So it's word of mouth.
Again, we do share and thingsof that sort on social media and
using digital marketing, butreally it's the word of mouth
(09:31):
from community members who we'veserviced.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
So we know that marketing is the heart of the
business and how we're gettingpeople in the door.
Have you guys ever thoughtabout maybe starting your own
podcast?
Have you guys ever thoughtabout maybe starting your own
podcast?
Speaker 3 (09:45):
We absolutely have and that's something that is in
the works.
We have discussed that.
Actually, a few years ago therewas like a pilot for Civically
Speaking, supposed to be a webTV show.
We're going to do that in apodcast format and we also have
partnership with Connect that ina podcast format.
(10:06):
And we also have partnershipwith Connect where we're going
to work on a local TV showcalled we Love Govs which
humanizes local government andkind of removes the red tape
around local government andgetting people more educated and
aware into what does that looklike, so that it doesn't have
this big, like you know,government scary.
You know a lot of misconceptionscome from lack of education and
(10:29):
awareness.
So we're really trying tobridge that gap.
So I'm glad that you mentionedthat.
Once that is launched Idefinitely will um let you and
your um audience know, but thatis definitely something in the
work.
Another thing is capacity.
It ties into kind of thenonprofit struggle is.
You know, a lot of times theperson you're talking to is the
(10:53):
day-to-day president, ceo,outreach, things of that sort.
So being able to partner withother organizations to maximize
our outreach in addition to ourmessage is so pertinent and I'm
happy that we're starting tomake inroads to have that
produced soon.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
In this line of work, things can feel heavy day to
day, right, but what do you dofor fun, rita?
Speaker 3 (11:18):
What do I do for fun?
My dogs.
I'm a fur parent so I have myfur baby, so spending time with
them I think pets are absolutelytherapeutic and their family
members.
I also have been getting backinto reading, um, especially
since education on so manydifferent levels is key.
(11:40):
So I do.
You know we have to stay tunedto what is going on, but
overconsumption is a real thing.
So I definitely have beenactively working on reducing
screen time and the mentalhealth benefits for that are
amazing.
So getting back into readingand then spending more time with
(12:02):
friends like being intentionalwith that time.
So I would say those are kindof 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 stickout.
It's back to being like eightor nine again.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Oh, that's great, yeah, so let's switch gears here
.
Can you describe a hardship ora life challenge that you
overcame and how it made youstronger?
What comes to mind?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
that you overcame and how it made you stronger.
What comes to mind?
So?
So many, but one that I'llshare, that a lot of people may
not realize because it wasbefore I was a public figure,
but at the age of 20, I wasdiagnosed with ovarian cancer
and so I still think, you know,thirties, fort, 40s, 50s is
young.
So when I think back to likebeing 20 and having a diagnosis
(12:59):
such as that, realizing like youknow, wow, you were still kind
of just like a baby just gettingstarted.
Thankfully it was early stage.
I've been in remission sincethen, no reoccurrences, really
grateful for the care team thatI have.
But in that challenge,recognizing the outlook you have
(13:22):
to have on things I could havevery easily gone into, you know,
woe is me, why me?
You know things of that sort.
But it was kind of just likewell, why not me?
You know, and I'm a person offaith, so leaning into my faith
and, you know, just trustingwhat God had in store for me.
(13:43):
But the outlook and I, you knowI actually I'm happy it
happened early in my lifebecause that set the tone for
kind of how I look at things inthe rest of my life, really
being intentional about who I'mwith the energy around me,
because those were things Ineeded to do to get through, you
(14:04):
know, having that diagnosis,going through chemo, feeling
weak, all of those other thingsand I've just continuously kept
that.
I'm one of those people.
Before it was like popular toput on a poster or, you know,
find it at your local home goodsI was all good vibes, only like
, don't bring negative energywhatever around me.
(14:24):
I'm going to need all the energyI need to move forward and just
continuing that.
So I would say that definitelystarted kind of the tenacity
that I have and also recognizing, you know, given the context of
all that's going on, you can'treally sweat the small stuff.
You really can't sweat thesmall stuff because there's
(14:45):
going to be so many battles,there's going to be so many wars
, different things we have toface.
So you really got to takeinventory of like, okay, is this
worth like going all out for,and just kind of again just
weighing, what energy do youwant to expend into your life
and who do you want to hangaround you, who do you want
(15:06):
pouring into you, you know?
So I would say that's kind ofwhat started.
Again, there's been morechallenges and hardships, but
that one I also attribute tokind of just like my mindset and
trying to have positiveoutlooks and all that I do.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Well, I know I speak for a lot of people whenever I
say that we're really glad thatyou're here, Marita, and that
you overcame that, and wheneveryou take a step back and you
look at the way that God isusing you in this life, I think
it's spectacular, so um.
Marita let's tell our listenersone thing that they should
remember, one thing that shouldstick with them about civically.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
One thing that should stick out about civically is um
, we can't do this work withoutthem, and I think what
volunteerism or supporting anonprofit like ourselves, but
specifically civically can looklike so many different things.
It can be volunteering for acouple hours, it can be donating
(16:11):
items.
It can be just sharing ourposts to get the word around.
It can be donating items.
It can be just sharing our postto get the word around.
It can be donating.
There's so many different waysthat folks can get involved and
that you can choose how you wantto get involved.
And because of the community,we're still here and we continue
(16:32):
to still sustain.
So I think that's kind of mytakeaway that no, no give is too
small and whatever that may betime, financial, sharing our
posts, things of that sortnothing is too small excellent
and how can our listeners learnmore about civically?
(16:52):
you can visit us, our website,civicallyincorg.
We're also on linkedin,facebook, instagram, civically
inc.
You can sign up when you go toour website.
Sign up for our newsletters, um, and you know, just our e-blast
and stay tuned.
We will be having differentactivities to celebrate 10 years
(17:13):
, because we still got to findthe joy.
We have to find the joy, and sothe fact that we're still here
10 years is a joyous occasionand we want to celebrate that
with all of you.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Outstanding Well, Marita, I really appreciate your
time today and having you as aguest on our show.
We wish you and theorganization the best moving
forward.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Thank you so much, Lila, for having me.
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnppittsburghcom.
That's gnppittsburghcom, orcall 412-561-9956.
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