Currently a doctoral student, Marquita Dorsey is an author and non-profit founder with the goal of making the world a better place. Hailing from Chicago, Marquita has always been passionate about making a difference in her community. From a young age, she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Those closest to her describe her as supportive, fun, and thoughtful.

With many friends who were a product of teenage pregnancy, Marquita decided she would seek to tell their stories. “Same Shoes Different Paths” is her non-fiction book consisting of a series of short stories that depict how someone’s environment growing up can ultimately affect their decisions. Seeing the pattern time and time again, Marquita is using her book to show how someone’s overall environment can create barriers for a better life and that the education on teenage pregnancy is the first piece of the puzzle for preventing it. The book is seeking to teach young girls how to make better decisions than they may know exist, through a series of first-hand experiences.

Marquita’s founded non-profit, G.A.L.S.S is seeking to help girls find self-love and ultimately, self-worth. Working in the inner city community of Chicago, G.A.L.S.S is forging to empower and enlighten females by helping them discover their worth. Marquita grew up surrounded by inspiring women. Her biggest influences are her grandmother’s, mother, and four sisters. Knowing the power of having such strong female role models, spurred her decision to create a non-profit where women who weren’t so lucky to have that inspiring force in their home lives, could turn to.

A free spirit with a mission-driven heart, Marquita is working to better her community one step at a time. From penning her first book on barriers within a certain environment, to starting an organization that will encourage and assist females in removing barriers with empowering choices, Marquita is not only exposing the problems, but providing a solution. Uplifting others at all costs, she’s a role model for the Chicago community and always seeking to do more.