Ms. Morgan-Reed is passionate about volunteering and supporting people and projects that seek to make a difference. From her education at Notre Dame Law School she learned what it means to be a “Different Kind of Lawyer”: one that seeks to do good and rectify injustice. She has carried that forward throughout her professional career dedicating her efforts to community building, women’s issues, and mentoring.
Community Building
Ms. Morgan-Reed was a downtown East Village resident for five years and a property owner for twelve. Immediately upon moving to the East Village she volunteered with the East Village Association and was elected to the Centre City Advisory Committee. She saw the importance of advocating for the East Village as it developed into a unique urban community. She formed the East Village Business Improvement District to encourage businesses to flourish and make the East Village more welcoming for new residents.
She was thrilled to continue her passion for community building when appointed to the Centre City Development Corporation in 2011, the predecessor to Civic San Diego. As the only downtown resident to serve on Civic San Diego, Ms. Morgan-Reed brought a unique perspective to the Board. She supported Civic San Diego transition from a redevelopment agency to an economic development agency as it secured millions of dollars in New Market Tax Credits for programs in disadvantaged communities.
Women's Issues
Ms. Morgan-Reed also dedicated her time to the Women’s Resource Fair: a one-day, one-stop-shop that offered medical, social, and legal services to abused, disadvantaged, and homeless women and children. While co-Chair of the Fair for four years, the Fair served over 800 women and 250 children on average each year. Many participants, volunteers, and vendors attended the Fair year after year because of the difference it made in their lives, and the lives of other women and children.
Mentoring
With the philosophy that people are best able to better themselves from a hand-up, rather than a hand out, Ms. Morgan-Reed takes every opportunity to mentor young career professionals. Ms. Morgan-Reed benefited greatly over the years from numerous mentors who mentored her. That is why she took the opportunity to help mentor other young attorneys, and career professionals as they navigated their career choices. Ms. Morgan-Reed began the Influence mentoring program in Lawyers Club and has served as a mentor with the Urban Land Institute and she served as a mentor with the Building Industry Association.