Background
Dr. Charlena Michelle Morton is a Birmingham , AL native, educated primarily in the Birmingham Public School System. Starting high school at the very young age of 12, thereby graduating at 16, she went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa , AL in 1989. Years after soley dedicating her life to her family, this mother of two reestablished her educational interests and would earn both, her Master’s Degree in Organizational Management and Doctorate in Organizational Development and Leadership with a Specialization in Diversity from Ashford University in San Diego, California.
Dr. Morton is noted for her Community Advocacy, as her time for the past 27 years has been dedicated to aiding individuals and families in securing desired housing despite their experiences, starting with the Fair Housing Center of Northern Alabama in 1996. Those experiences afforded the opportunity to join forces with Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham (NHSB), where she aided more than 400 families in achieving the American Dream through homeownership, lead a team to assist countless families during the Pandemic in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and managed the Homeownership Program for the agency. While working as the Special Projects Coordinator for NHSB, her efforts, in only a short period, yielded more than $39 Million in real estate sales, and afforded the opportunity to partner with an array of professionals in the real estate industry. Dr. Morton served as the agency’s only full-time HUD Certified Housing Counselor. The many established relationships while in the housing industry cultivated her interest in obtaining her Real Estate License. To maximize on this ability, Dr. Morton joined a Bessemer, AL Team of professionals, Matthews and Associates.
Currently, and while establishing herself as a real estate professional, Dr. Morton works as a Full-time Consultant for her ‘self named’ consulting firm. Wearing several hats, Dr. C. Morton’s Cultivating Concepts, LLC. provides the platform for her to explore, create, and expound on endless opportunities to connect people with progress. Her use of collaborative events and unique techniques, coupled with her ability to engage the masses (community and business) for professional and or recreational purposes, lends heavily to her success as an entrepreneur. Under this umbrella she manages to consult, counsel, entertainment, and advise.
Dr. Morton’s dedication to community was realized upon co-founding and directing projects and programs for the Museum of Urban Art (MUA). MUA was established in 1999 to give recognition to Urban Expression through an educational complex encompassing Film, Art, Music and Culture. Inspired by a family tragedy in 1999, the project’s conception was based on the need to educate and liberate the youth while providing a venue as a path of expression as an alternative to crime. This work of passion would go on to become the backdrop of Dr. Morton’s dissertation, as required to obtain her PhD. The title: “The Perceptions of Youth About How Cultural Programs Stop Them From Committing Crimes”, published 2019.
Dr. Morton is a Licensed Realtor, a Published Author, a Licensed Alabama Insurance Agent, a HUD Certified Counselor and Manages a 9 year old musical talent. She is a Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a Charter Member of 100 Black Women, a Founding Member of the Early Detectors Breast Cancer Awareness Organization, a Member of the Board of Directors for the Encore Theatre and Higher Ground Community Development, a Member of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers/ Birmingham Realtists and is the Owner of Cultivating Concepts, LLC, a Consulting Firm. Dr. Morton is the proud mother of 2; Johnae’ and Jae’Lon (Rachel) Leonard and is affectionately known as “ChiChi” by her three adorable grands; Journi Hudson, Brooklynn and Brea’Lon Leonard.