Meet Patti A. Smith, R.N.

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Patti A. Smith, R.N.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Patti A., so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose through several different life experiences. The first by watching my Mother give of her time and kindness to others in our North Dakota farming community. She was a RN and drove 30 miles to work from our farm to our closest town of 900 folks. Every day for 12 years, whether she arrived home at 5PM or 1AM, she would stop up to Margaret and Oscars farm and help Margaret get ready for bed. you see, they lived in a two story farm house and Margaret had such bad arthritis she could neither walk the stairs nor get herself undressed. My Mother would help her get undressed and her bed ready on the couch in their living room on the 1st floor as Oscar would either head upstairs or would already be in bed. That is only one example.

I joined an International Women’s organization in our Fort Collins, Colorado community approximately 11 years ago. The Zonta Club of Fort Collins, where our mission envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. Most importantly, women can live in a world without abuse and without fear. Through this organization I learned the plight of women world-wide. Through our local community service and advocacy projects I learned how girl and women’s needs were also reflected in our mission.

I was blessed to teach high school students twelve years, in the Career and Technical Education profession, meeting students from all different backgrounds, at our local community college. Then in my 20 years as a Health Education Consultant, working with school districts all over Colorado, I met girls from elementary to high school and many of the high school girls I met had grown up in refugee camps.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
 I  initiated the Her Legacy: Women of Fort Collins Historic Public Women’s Art/education exhibition under her Zonta Club. This is now Living Her Legacy, a 501c3 IRS approved nonprofit. It is the first historic public very visible art/education exhibit recognizing women ‘s accomplishments in our community and in Colorado. We are Recognizing Women. Inspiring Girls. Living Her Legacy is creating a generation of change makers who will impact their communities and the girls who come behind them, with our women’s art exhibition and our education programs for girls. You can learn more here: www.LivingHerLegacy.org

I am the Founder/Executive Director of Living Her Legacy, which I initiated in 2014. I am excited and honored to bring the stories of 48 women’s impact to our community and to the guests who visit our city every year. These 48 notable women’s impact is in our Fort Collins community, yet; they have lived all over Northern Colorado and 22 of these Legacy Honorees are connected to our local University going back to 1800’s. I have been blessed to meet and visit with each of our living Legacy Honorees and many of our deceased Legacy Honorees family members, to personally learn of their life journeys.

We are continuing to install portraits of these women in our outdoor, public art exhibition and to provide education programs for girls 5th grade to 19 years of age. We offer a Girl Leaders program to girls 16-19 and teen mom’s and a role model art workshop to girls 5th-8th grade to three nonprofits we partner with that serve underserved populations. Our new project is to expand our role model art workshop to Title I elementary schools in our community as an after school program for 5th grade girls.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Failures help us grow, be open to learning different ways to approach challenging situations. 2. Hire a nonprofit consultant to help you complete the IRS501C3 application process, at the beginning of your journey.
3. Learn to ask for help, you do not need to do every task by yourself. Other folks input will provide various ways to look at each situation that arises.
4. Be a continual learner from webinars and local folks in your community. Ask for referrals from those who you meet and are interested in your nonprofit success.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
There are many individuals who have continued to help me become a more impactful and successful nonprofit leader encouraging my journey: (not in any particular order)
1. My son, who is on my board, has been involved with nonprofit, fundraising development over 20 years and is currently working at the University of Chicago as the Assistant V.P. of Development for the Arts/Humanities Department.
2. A dear friend who I met through my Zonta Club of Fort Collins who retired from our local university as the Extension’s Director of Operations. Judy has 37 years of service with CSU Extension, and over 42 years with Extension nationally, supporting the development of others. She is also my bookkeeper/President of our Board of Directors.    3.  Another dear friend who has been on our board from the beginning helped me rewrite our website with a local web designer. Sonia has a marketing background and owns a finance company. She also taught me ‘To not bury the lead’ in my marketing communication.                                                                                                                4. A nonprofit consultant I follow online and numerous webinars I have participated in over the years.
5. Numerous folks in our community that I have been referred to over the years as well.
6.  And my cheerleaders and supporters who believe in our mission.

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