Matt Overton

Executive Director of the Columbia Future Forge

Matthew Overton created Columbia Future Forge, a church-based nonprofit that puts teens to work on landscaping crews, gets them involved in a cross-training program, and has them participate in classes where they can reflect on what it means to be an adult Christian. About 125 young people a year participate in various Columbia Future Forge initiatives, including a flagship program that pairs them with adults for mentoring and life coaching. The kids can also join in several startup enterprises that Overton has developed with support from the church and other partnerships: Mowtown Teen Landscaping, Utmost Athletics, and Forge Drones.