Seward Community Foundation is thrilled to welcome its newest Board Member, Melanie Smith, who joined the board in February of 2022. Originally from Fairbanks and Bethel, Melanie moved to Seward in 2006 when her husband, Smitty, attended AVTEC. After finishing her Master of Social Work degree from Walla Walla University, Melanie moved back to Seward in 2012 with her husband and two children in tow. “I love the warmth and friendliness of the people in Seward and Moose Pass,” said Melanie when asked what she loves most about our communities. “We always join together to serve those in need, to solve problems, and to have fun while making our community a better place.”
Melanie has had an active role in the communities since she arrived. She has worked as a Behavioral Health Clinician at SeaView Community Services and later took a position as the Manager of Social Services at Providence Seward Medical Center and Mountain Haven. Currently, Melanie serves young families as the coordinator of the Bloom program with the Seward Prevention Coalition. In addition, Melanie served on the board of the Homeless Connection for several years and enjoys painting with the Seward Mural Society (SMS). Just recently, Melanie worked alongside local artist Susan Swiderski as one of the Master Artists for SMS’s 2022 mural project, “Seward’s Native Roots,” which will be installed on the TelAlaska building in the spring of 2023.
Melanie joined the board of SCF after attending a board meeting and was impressed by all the grants SCF has awarded to support many non-profit organizations in Seward and Moose Pass. “I wanted to be a part of the amazing things that SCF is doing to serve our community,” said Melanie. “I’ve been blessed and encouraged by so many people throughout my life that it’s important for me to give back to our community.”
So far, her favorite part of joining the board of advisors has been the monthly meetings. “Each of us brings our unique background and experiences to the table, and our collective perspective helps us engage in thoughtful dialogue about the ideas in grant applications for a comprehensive decision-making process.”
Want to join an awesome group of people with a heart to serve the community? Seward Community Foundation is always looking to add to our board. Send an expression of Interest to seward@alaskacf.org.