Amy Smith
What’s your name?
Amy Smith
What is something you would like Soupsters to know about you?
I am a passionate public health professional focusing on racial and health equity who believes in the power of meaningful partnerships, community-driven solutions, and making positive change through vulnerable and transparent communication and dedicated action. I am also a solo parent by choice of a little boy, who came to my world via beautiful Soup community connections. I also love to sing, dance and learn about all kinds of people through their personal stories.
What’s your favorite thing about The Soup?
I am so grateful for being hooked up with the Soup community in June 2007. It has become such a huge part of my (and now my child's) growth, creativity, playfulness, musical expression, friendship circles, and deep connection in my decades living in the East Bay. It is a great comfort to have a vast network of bad-ass, progressive, and loving people to reach out to for help, to create positive change with together, as well as to just hang out with and enjoy life.
What is one thing you hope might happen at The Soup?
I would love to see Soup grow in its diversity and inclusion, as well as have more of a long-term sustainability plan for the Soup community. I think Soup and those who participate in this community would all benefit from having more people of various underrepresented identities not currently seen a lot at Soup (in terms of race/ethnicity, class, ability, sexual orientation, gender expression, age). As we increase our age diversity - especially people in their 20s-40s - coming to Soup, I can see the beautiful and important legacy of Soup continuing more easily into the future.
I would also love to see more ongoing relationships established with all the Bennies we give to via The Soup. These relationships are organically there for some organizations, but could be strategically planned more with intentionally-organized volunteer opportunities year-round.
What is something almost nobody knows about you?
I usually come across as outgoing, strong and that I have it "all together." And, for the most part, I do. Although I am very grounded and secure in myself and who I am, I also have a pretty vulnerable sadness about not having a romantic life partner yet. I have so much love to give and I feel like it's not really being expressed to its full potential with this intimacy piece of my life missing right now. I have hope that this love will have a home to go to some day!
If a giant pile of Soupsters showed up on your doorstep wanting to make the world a better place, where would you have them start?
Policy change and community organizing on the cross-section of how our current economic system is worsening climate change, as well as income and racial inequality. We need to work to get things in place like a comprehensive Green New Deal and universal programs (i.e. basic income, healthcare, childcare, etc.) that support diverse families and provide green jobs that pay a living wage. We need to save our planet!
What is a memory of Soup that makes you smile?
The countless times I have found myself floating around a sea of Soupsters - dancing, participating in hilarious banter, singing, hugging, creating, and going deep in our vulnerable shares - and feeling true connection and a place to call home. Smiles of gratitude abound.
Anything else you would like us to know?
Living abroad in my early 20s and speaking Spanish now for over three decades have both really opened doors to meaningful cross-cultural connections and lifelong friendships, as well as shaped how I view our society and the world.