"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Biography of Marcus McGirt|Motivational Speaker, Philanthropist, Mentor

 

Marcus McGirt was born and raised in Latta, South Carolina. He is a 2012 graduate of Latta High School, and also a 2017 graduate of Morris College, earning his Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, along with a Minor in Religion studies. During his time at Morris, Marcus was heavily involved on campus. He was on the Gospel choir, gospel choir treasurer, Criminal Justice club President, Student Government Association Treasurer, and served as the Senior Class President. Mr. Marcus also pledged THE Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in the spring of 2016, where he also served as Vice-President, Treasurer, & Dean of Membership. Marcus host notable recognition from Morris College with Scholarships and Awards, which led him to receive the Division of Social Science Superior Award his senior year. An award given by the chair of the department for overall academics and character displayed throughout matriculation in the division. 

 

In 2016, Marcus became the founder of Save Our Youth Movement, now a Mentoring Movement. Through his hard work and dedication, it has served as a mentoring program in three counties, to include Marlboro, Florence, and now most recently Dillon counties. Save Our Youth Movement currently has 30 mentees between three counties, with a waiting list of 10. Marcus is not the only one doing the mentoring, he shares the responsibility with 8 other great men who mentors in the program. 

 

Mr. McGirt is also a Motivational Speaker who speaks at schools, churches, galas, and other civic engagements. Marcus has a story that is surely needed to be read about, but through speaking he shares of how he penetrated the DJJ system, only to return and work for the same system designed to rehabilitate at risk youth, much like himself. Prior to Marcus joining Department of Juvenile Justice, he worked at Williams Middle School, teaching 7th grade Social Studies. While there, Marcus bonded well with the students and gave them extra push that they needed to continue on doing positive things. After transitioning into DJJ, being hired by his former youth probation officer, she quickly showed him the ropes and Marcus excelled from there. He transformed the “Lunch Buddies” program DJJ offers into a Bow Tie gentlemen’s club with the primary students who looked forward to dressing up each week to show Mr. McGirt they were paying attention. After one year serving Marion County DJJ, Marcus was promoted to Training Coordinator for the entire state with DJJ, and from there to Intensive Supervision Officer in Florence County. 

 

Even after countless hours of putting in work for the state, Marcus somehow still finds time to award over $5,000 in scholarships since 2016 to deserving high school seniors, host numerous of events in the Latta community, talk about the need for change in the areas, mentor whom needs it, create resumes and career portfolios, work for a Funeral home business, in which he is currently a Funeral Director Apprentice for United Funeral Home, Loris, South Carolina. It doesn’t stop there for Marcus, most recently he just joined the Department of Social Services as an Investigator and is actively working hard to uphold the agency mission. In Marcus free time, when that permits, he enjoys laughter with friends and family, dancing/strolling, relaxing, and just having alone time. Mr. McGirt is also a member of the Phi Beta Lambda Business Organization, Graduate level where his dues are contributed to the Kappa Beta Eta chapter seated at Morris College, and also a member of Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist church in Bennettsville, SC under the leadership of the great Gilbert and Juanita Wilson. 

 

Even with all of these things, his greatest accomplishment has been receiving these two awards, the Community Hero Award given by Mr. Isaac Wilson from the Isaac Wilson Project, and the illustrious Key to the City of Latta by the Town Council in 2018, for his never ending support and countless volunteered hours to push Latta forward for the betterment of ALL citizens. And so we ask, “Who is Marcus McGirt”? If this doesn’t give a brief overview, schedule a day with him to get a full cover. God bless!