Pamela M. Covington (she/her) is an African-American woman living in Atlanta, Georgia. She wrote her first published article while she was living on welfare. It was a contributory piece appearing in, what was then, a brand-new national newspaper—USA Today. Armed with that single byline, she convinced editors of local publications to give her a chance. As a result, she began her career as a freelance journalist. She then advanced to full-time positions as a business writer for a daily newspaper and, next, as a staff writer for a business weekly. Since that earliest piece, she’s had over 125 articles in print.
In 2016 she self-published, “A Day at the Fare: One Woman’s Welfare Passage.” A memoir, the book is a first-hand account of how, through no fault of her own, she once plummeted from a cozy, middle-class lifestyle into one of deep poverty—and painstakingly struggled until she could make a way out.
Today, all of her work as a speaker, anti-poverty advocate, and women’s transition coach is based on her lived experiences. Pamela has shared her encounters with poverty as a discussion panelist, keynote speaker, lobby meeting participant, contributing writer, workshop presenter, advocacy consultant, and podcast guest. In 2019, as a professional storyteller and alumna of The Moth, an organization dedicated to the art of storytelling, she was selected to perform at “Around the Bend,” The Moth’s Community Program Showcase in Brooklyn.
As a member of RESULTS’ Experts on Poverty advocacy cohort, she passionately uses her voice to illustrate the transformative impact that anti-poverty programs can have on an individual or family’s life. Her specific advocacy interests are in housing, child nutrition, childcare and education.
As a women’s transition coach Pamela helps her clients overcome the emotional turmoil of unplanned major life changes and guides them towards living happier, more fulfilling lives.
Pamela’s well-rounded communication skills include work as a radio announcer, broadcast production person, documentary narrator, and TV ad spokesperson for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. At one time, she even served as the information line voice for both Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Pamela would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of North Florida. She also holds a master’s degree in Management and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management, both from Troy University.
You can follow Pamela on:
- X (formerly Twitter): @PMCovington
- Website: http://www.pamelamcovington.com