Meet Patti Smith | Founder/Executive Director Living Her Legacy nonprofit, R.N., Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend, Sister

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patti Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patti, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
1. Risk taking defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary: “ Successful entrepreneurship involves taking risks. If you don’t embrace risk-taking, you may want to rethink being a business owner. Taking risks, however, does not mean going into business blindly and then expecting great results. Taking risks in entrepreneurship involves careful planning and hard work.” To be get something started as pursuing your dream is risk-taking. You don’t know if it will work or even be successful. My life has been filled with risk taking: During college I spent one month in Europe, by myself, traveling to visit a friend; After college, I traveled for six weeks in Mexico with a girlfriend; I joined the military for retirement benefits and ended up in Saudi Arabia. I moved to Colorado to help my brother relocate after being in the army; I took a wilderness preparedness class after moving to Colorado and had to spend 24 hours alone in mountains to pass my class, I left nursing to begin a teaching career without any formal education to be in a classroom, I started a business, as a Health Education Consultant, that lasted over 20 years and I took a risk attending a Halloween party my friend invited me to, to meet a young man and I met my husband of 43 years. When I first had my idea or dream to recognize women’s accomplishments in our community, with a public art exhibit, I had no idea what the next step would be. I shared my little idea with an acquaintance who had been in the community a long time and Kathy referred me to a young man who had been her employee when she was the Mayor of Loveland. And so, my journey began, one day at a time, one referral at a time. I know nothing of art, but; I had a good friend who was an artist who I invited to join me on this journey. The ball was rolling and I was gathering supporters and volunteers along the way. I enjoy adventures: My life became one big action adventure. I would have always wondered if this could have worked, if I would not have taken that first step. One step, a leap of faith into the unknown or a risk, so-to-speak. A question I have asked myself is: Have I made a difference today? Making a difference at times, can be risk-taking. This Living Her Legacy art/education exhibit will make a difference and inspire girls/women long into the future. This is my contribution to our community.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My professional life began as a Registered Nurse working in several local hospitals, as a Long Term Care Consultant and as an Educator (15) fifteen years of which (12) twelve were introducing high school students from (10) ten local high schools to the Healthcare Professions at Front Range Community College/Larimer Campus. My next endeavor was 20 years, a sole proprietor, as a Health Education Consultant. I worked with school districts all over Colorado creating for them a program, like I used to teach, to introduce their students to the Healthcare Professions and creating community connections with their healthcare professions. During this time I was blessed to meet young women from all backgrounds and in one school my class had (10) ten young ladies who had been raised in refugee camps and had come to the US with their families. My love of supporting young women from underserved populations grew out of my experiences meeting students from all over Colorado, during my years in classroom. I joined the military for retirement benefits and ended up serving in Saudi Arabia during the first Persian Gulf War as a RN. I have been a member of several women’s organizations over the years and most recently (10) ten years in the Zonta Club of Fort Collins. This is an International organization that supports girls/women locally and globally to get an education, be healthy and live safely without fear of experiencing violence. In 2013 I had an idea, from viewing a public art exhibit in another Colorado city. This art exhibit recognized women and men who contributed to our state and was created by a woman artist. I thought, if they can do this in their city why can’t we do this in our community and only recognize women’s accomplishments. And our Living Her Legacy art/education exhibit concept was born. Today, it is March 12, 2021 and I have been on a journey of daily perseverance, determination and gratitude for the individuals met along the way over this 7 year journey of love, and for all of the support received to help myself and those on our team to keep moving forward. The movement is Recognizing Women. Inspiring Girls. We have been approved to create the first historic, public art/education exhibit in our community. We have been blessed to bring the impact these women have accomplished, to our community members and guests who visit our city and our Old Town area. Challenges have been many here are a few: 1. As a RN I am used to providing a service to others, learning fundraising skills to ask for financial support for our project has been a challenge. I have participated on many free webinars, practiced and improved at reaching out to our community members and businesses to share our nonprofit mission in soliciting their support. 2. Social media is an ongoing learning experience. At 70 years old I never planned to be learning about creating and updating websites, blogging, Instagram, Facebook and FB live events and more. Again, after many webinars, frustrating days and Asking For Help…I have learned more than I could ever have imagined was possible. I have several previous young women, I met while they were in college, that still help me today. Lessons I have learned along the way: 1. Ask for help and take a deep breath, as this frustration too shall pass and something new will be in its place to provide a new learning experience. 2. It is good to learn something new each day. Send time to learn in small chunks, I will in time learn how to make it all work together. Sharing my brand and story: 1. Follow your passion, one day at a time. 2. Don’t give up. 3. Ask for help along your journey. 4. Utilize the calm app creating time and taking time for yourself in short 10 minute time slots to change your perspective on what is at hand My story is about supporting young women to learn how to be able to dream and learn how to put foundations under those dreams. Sharing stories of other girls and women and what they have tackled in their life journeys to become the success stories of today and tomorrow. I am most proud of the fact that we are still moving forward with our women’s recognition mission and that we are installing our first art exhibit of the first four portraits of 48 women selected to be our Legacy Honorees, on March 28, 2021, in our approved public space in Old Town, Fort Collins, CO.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spot in our city will soon be our Living Her Legacy historic, public art/education exhibit location. This is the Old Town area of our city where music events are held, there is a water fountain area for children to play in during hot summer days and many locally women owned businesses to visit. I live in Colorado as I love the outdoors: I would take my friends to visit Estes Park to peruse the various specialty shops and drive up to Bear Lake. Bear Lake is located in Rocky Mountain National Park and is an easy level hike around this lake at over 9,000 feet. We would drive up the Poudre Canyon to stop along the way by the Poudre River for a picnic. We would drive up to Mishawaka for lunch, a long time music venue sitting on the edge of the Poudre River. We would ride our bikes on several of the miles and miles of bike trails available in our community as well. stopping in Old Town at Happy Lucky’s tea house for a break to visit. After the visit to my favorite tea shop we would go next door to our local bookstore, owned by Susan. It is called the Firehouse Bookstore and was actually part of the old Firehouse station in early years. One day we would eat breakfast at the Rainbow restaurant sitting outside in their garden under the Colorado warm sunshine. This is located across the street from Colorado State University. We would take the historic ghost tour in Old Town learning about the original buildings of our city and their stories. Speaking of original buildings one morning we would eat breakfast at the Silver Grill, enjoying their famous cinnamon rolls in the oldest restaurant in our city. We would also visit our local Museum of Art which is housed in the old Post Office building on main street, College Avenue. There are so many wonderful areas to visit and friends to meet along the way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Shoutout goes to several individuals: First and foremost to my wonderful husband, Steven, who without his support I could not have founded this nonprofit to follow my passion supporting women and girls. And of course, to my Mother, who showed by her actions what it meant to serve and support others, though out her lifetime Next I want to thank my Living Her Legacy Community Advisory Council who have been with me from the beginning: Rachael Davis, my colleague who partnered with me to create this women’s recognition concept. Rachael is my Art Director and one of our two Portrait Artist’s. Kirsten Johnson, RJ Clay, Rosann Winn, Barbara Fleming and our other artist, Trish Murtha. Next I want to thank my Board of Directors who began our journey to become an IRS approved 501c3 nonprofit: Debbi Potts, Jason Smith, Caridad Souza, Uju Okeke, Kristen Lang, Sonia Cooper and Natalie Phillips. And to our new Board members: Barbara Lambert and Jessica Espinosa Novaria. I would be remiss if I didn’t send my gratitude to the individuals in our city who helped with the approval process for this art/education historic public exhibit to become a reality: Matt Robenalt, DDA Executive Director; Ed Stoner, Old Town Properties Manager-Retired; Dwight Hall, President CooperSmith’s Brewery and Karen McWilliams, Fort Collins Historic Preservation Services Director. And to all of our community members who nominated notable women for consideration and the individuals who sat on our (7) seven selection events over 4 1/2 years time to help select our 48 Legacy Honorees. Last, but; certainly not the least of all our gratitude goes out to all of our donors, supporters and volunteers who we would not be where we are today, if not for their continued support.

Website: www.LivingHerLegacy.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Living_Her_Legacy/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patti-smith-fort-collins/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HerLegacyFortCollins/

Youtube: LivingHer (space) Legacy

Other: Info@LivingHerLegacy.org pAS843@comcast.net www.HerLegacyFCdonate.org or TEXT GIVE to 970-431-8980 Join us in our mission to Recognize Women. Inspire Girls.