LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Volunteering and public service are acts that many find pride in, and one Arkansas Girl Scout is working to bring in other teens, showing them the joy behind giving back, all while completing her Gold Project.
Morgan Harrison just graduated from high school this year, but her stint in Girl Scouts isn’t over yet.
Throughout the rest of her time with the organization, she's recruiting students interested in uplifting and preserving their city.
"I want to get people involved any way I can,” Morgan said. “I love helping the community and volunteering, I’ve been doing it basically my whole life.”
For Morgan, getting involved is her guiding light— and a decade of giving back through Girl Scouts and other organizations has led her to this next big step, her Gold Project.
"It's a project that addresses a need in the community, and it has to be sustainable,” Morgan explained.
She is creating a youth group, or youth corps, with the Quapaw Quarter Association, and even though she just graduated from high school, in a sense she's already looking back at the schoolhouse.
“I got involved with the Quapaw Quarter Association a few years ago, and I noticed there were plenty of older folks involved, but not many younger people,” Morgan said. “I wanted to get the younger generation interested in the Quapaw Quarter Association.”
The Girl Scout is recruiting high schoolers to get involved with the Quapaw Quarter Association, to preserve Little Rock homes and educate people on their histories.
Morgan’s mom, Lisa Harrison, is encouraging her daughter to continue going big with her passion for volunteering
"I’m so proud and she’s earning her Gold award, which is not an easy feat because it's similar to an Eagle award,” Lisa said. “In our family, giving back is very important and I'm involved with the Quapaw Quarter Association, and that's how she got involved.”
Morgan isn't just looking to score another badge on her Girl Scout vest with this Gold Project, but rather she hopes to inspire the younger generation to give back.
“Volunteering is a great thing and so is helping,” she said. “As a Girl Scout, we're taught to help the community and make the world a better place.”
Morgan’s Gold Project must be completed and submitted by the end of September, meaning there is still time for her to finish it and for more high schoolers to take part.
She’s recruiting 9th through 12th graders who have an interest in architecture, history, conservation, or preservation.
All interested students must do is fill out this application form here or reach out to the Quapaw Quarter Association.