Steven Merrick

Steven is a highly accomplished grassroots organizer with vast experience. His passion for civic engagement and activism ignited as a student at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he forged meaningful relationships with fellow student leaders to address funding inequity between HBCUs and PWIs.

Since then, Steven has accumulated several years of gratifying experience organizing at the local and state levels. During his tenure as a community organizer with the union 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, he successfully collaborated with the Fight For $15 Coalition to advocate for increasing Maryland’s minimum wage. 

He later took on the honor of youth organizing in Baltimore City to pass the torch to the next generation of socially conscious youth, dedicating himself to mentoring and teaching youth the fundamental skills of community organizing and other vital life skills.

Presently, Steven holds the esteemed position of Senior Organizer at Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE), where he enthusiastically pursues the organization’s mission to train and empower religious and community leaders to revitalize the communities in which they live, work, and worship. As part of his work, Steven engages with COPE’s policy agenda and collaborates with a vibrant ecosystem of Black-led organizations, including the California Black Power Network, to effect transformative change in the lives of Black Californians throughout the state. Furthermore, Steven has recently joined the Education Commission of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA).

Outside of his dedicated activism, Steven treasures quality time with his wife and their Dalmatian, Ace. They recently relocated to Los Angeles, California, where they found their first home in the vibrant neighborhood of North Hollywood. When they are not engaged in their work, they can often be found enjoying the beach or exploring scenic hiking trails.