Open Spaces Sacred Places

Topic:Urban Resilience – urban green spaces designed with a purposeGuest & Organization:Fred Smith is the Director of Stringfellow Health Fund Grants at the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama. He has an Associate of Science degree from Southern Union Community College, Bachelor’s degree in marketing and a Master’s degree in Public Administration—both from Jacksonville State University. Fred is also a graduate of the Alabama Association of Not for Profit Executive Leadership certificate program. He is a recent appointee to the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama Roundtable, a group that gives young civic and business leaders the opportunity to study issues and government policy in Alabama in conjunction with the research conducted by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. The group meets with public officials and other leaders to learn about and discuss issues currently affecting the state and local governments while also seeking solutions to the state’s problems.Prior to joining the Community Foundation, he served as an Instructor for Gadsden State Community College and previously served as, the Director of Jacksonville State University’s Community Wellness program which received several local and state commendations for its contributions to community programming. He completed the Essential Skills & Strategies for New Grantmakers in 2016 and has also participated in Foundations on the Hill held in Washington D.C. both hosted by Southeastern Council of Foundations. Fred also has a previous connection to the Foundation. He has written grants to, received grants from, and successfully managed grants for the Foundation and has served as a volunteer grant reviewer. In addition to managing the Stringfellow Health Fund competitive grants program, Fred also conducts grantee site visits, manages the poverty project to align the foundation’s grant making with the Community Needs Assessment, and is coordinating the 100th anniversary celebration of Susie Parker Stringfellow’ s will in 2020.Fred met his lovely wife Rochelle while they both attended Jacksonville State University. They have two daughters, Eden and Zion, and they reside in Jacksonville Al.Resources:A Southern Interpretation of SacredNature SacredIsland Press Urban Resilience ProjectDownload the Island Press App! Learn more about the app here, and find it on Google Play and Apple App Store!