Meet April Smith

We recently connected with April Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Hi April, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?

Growing up, I was raised middle class. My father had a great job as a mechanic and was making double the average salary. My mom was able to be a stay at home mom and tend to the needs of my brother and I however when I graduated high school, I found myself pregnant with my first child, and shortly after pregnant with my second. As a single parent, I struggled to pay daycare, my car payment, insurance, and my own basic needs. I was unable to move out and get my own place. I Worked three jobs to try and make ends meet. When that didn’t work, I was forced to take public assistance. This was a humbling experience.

Just three years after the birth of my second daughter, I would find myself the victim of a date, rape, and pregnant with my third child. As a Christian woman, I couldn’t bring myself to have an abortion. I decided to raise this child after my ultrasound revealed I was having a boy. He was my first born son, and while I had to put some feelings of resentment aside, it turned out that he saved me. He brought me back from a dark and lonely place. He gave me so much joy and fulfillment, and I could’ve never imagined the blessing behind such a painful experience. He is 22 now, and serves as a lead teacher in our church for the children’s ministry and one of the best friends I’ve ever ever had.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Monday through Friday on the Coordinator Of behavioral heath santa ana I oversee 42 staff members, including licensed marriage and family, therapist, social workers and professional, clinical counselors, alcohol and substance, abuse, counselors, and our behavior support specialists. I’ve been with the school district for nine years and have built a program for our general Ed students to provide them opportunities for mental and behavioral healthcare without the requirement of an individualized education plan, our programs have been able to serve thousands of students over the years to help them address things like depression, anxiety, grief, and loss, trauma, shame, bullying, and peer conflict. Our mission is to embrace hope, educate on health, And empower healing.
In my spare time I volunteer as the community manager for a coalition called Resiliency In The Valley. Resilience in the valley has been going since 2019. We are coalition dedicated towards educating the community on adverse child and adverse community experiences. We offer free training and resources to help business owners, and community leaders, change their perspective on trauma from what’s wrong with you what happened to you allowing us to have a trauma informed care approach to our business practices and the way we respond to our constituents.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities would be persistence, tenacity, and grit. The advice I would give is don’t take every advice that’s given to you. When you’re on a new path and forging a new journey, people have a lot to say, and I’ve realized very little of it was useful to me and calling on my life. This is not negate. The voice of trusted mentors have to have trusted mentors that can lead and guide you people that have gone before you and this work you know the difference between advice and a mentor because the mentor will not tell you what to do, but rather share their experiences and offer solutions , others will try to dictate your business and it will come from a place of fear or doubt. You must ignore those voices. I also heard Joyce Myers say, “Do it afraid!” That is always stuck with me. Sometimes you have to just step up and do what you Gotta do even if you’re shaking in your boots.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Prayer time with the Holy Spirit, my education, and my husband.

My education and degrees, have allowed me to sit at tables that I normally would not have been invited to. However, my education can only take me so far it’s by the leading and the guiding of the Holy Spirit that gives me wisdom and discernment in certain situations that allows me to find favor and grace in atmospheres where I would normally be rejected. I can never forget my husband and all his support and hold me when I come home and cry because I’ve just had too much. His love and support allows me to put on a brave face when I step out the door every day and I’m incredibly grateful that I don’t have to wear that face when I get home he provides the safe space for me to , discuss my vulnerabilities and fears.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: resiliency_in_the_valley
• Facebook: Resiliency in the Valley

Image Credits

Shavon Osborne