Markita Morris grew up in north Philadelphia with her mother, brother, sister, and cousin. Early on she was identified as a mentally gifted student so her mother ensured that she could attend Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary and J.R. Masterman Lab & Demonstration Schools. Morris was housing insecure for most of her early life and in combination with a difficult home life greatly challenged her college application process. She served as the first student member of Philadelphia’s board of education and her fellow board members helped her attend Brown University. She earned her A.B. in Africana Studies and Anthropology from Brown in 1998 and her law degree from New York University in 2003. Morris worked in law for over twenty years and currently serves as Executive Director of the Arts and Business Council for Greater Philadelphia where she lives with her husband and two sons.