Mary-Pat is the National Youth Director for National Action Network; one of the country’s largest Civil Rights organization. At 9 years old Mary-Pat learned the frightening statistics affecting the youth in this country. That’s when she decided to speak up and do something. Born in Atlanta Georgia, she grew a community service project into one of the nation’s fastest growing youth lead organization and a non-profit: Youth in Action USA.
She can now add Peace First Prize Fellow to her list of accomplishments. She was awarded the fellowship for her national campaign called Think Twice–a national campaign that educates youth on non-violence and other issues crippling her generation. Her national campaign provides teen-safety workshops for schools, trains teens and college students in many areas of youth advocacy techniques.
Not content to rest on her accomplishments, Mary-Pat travels an average of 4,000 miles a month speaking at high schools, colleges, conferences, women’s events, and crisis shelters across the U.S. In addition to her duties at NAN Mary-Pat serves as Youth Leader for Usher’s New Look foundation. Mary-Pat delivers keynote presentations calling for teen activism; her story provides the inspiration, her how-to strategies give young people their own road map for changing the world.
Mary has been honored with an award from President Barack Obama for Community service and received the Power Woman Award from Al Sharpton’s NAN Convention Won the Drum Major of Justice award from SCLC Women. She received the Essence 365Black award from McDonald’s and was selected as Ebony Magazines Power 100. Atlanta’s AJC named her as one of Georgia’s Home Town Hero’s, also winner of 21st Century 20 under 20 Leader 2013, Mary-Pat was named Activist of the Year from the 100 Black Men of America 2013, Awarded Philanthropist of the year from, Hearts to Hearts, Winner of the Peace Prize where her national Campaign Think Twice won 50 thousand dollars, 2013, Black Girls Rock M.A.D (Making A Difference) Girl winner 2013, National winner for Kohl’s Kids Who Care. Porsche Driving Force of the year award.
Mary has appeared on CSPAN, CNN, Rolling Out, BET and you can listen to her every Thursday on Keeping It Real with Rev Al Sharpton.