Healthy Teen Network is honored to recognize Representative Patricia Haynes Smith with the 2019 Spirit of Service award for her commitment to community and youth education.

(Learn more about our awards and past awardees on our conference website.)

A native of Baton Rouge, Rep. Smith is well known throughout Louisiana for her tireless effort to champion causes she believes in. She has been a force for improving education in public schools in East Baton Rouge Parish and the state. Recently re-elected without opposition, Rep. Smith is currently serving her third term in the Louisiana House of Representatives and has served two consecutive terms as chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus.

Rep. Smith serves on the Appropriations, Education, Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs committees of the Legislature. She has many appointments, including the Select Leadership Committee, and she serves as Vice Chair of the House Executive Committee. Awards for her service are numerous, including the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Award from Grambling University and the NOBEL (National Organization of Black Elected Legislative) Women’s highest award as the 2014 “Woman of the Year.” She was elected the 1^st Vice President of NOBEL Women at their 2017 Annual Legislative Conference and Vice Chair of the Southern Regional Education Board’s Legislative Advisory Council in 2018 and 2019.

With her husband, their six children, twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, Rep. Smith believes public service comes second only to family.

Healthy Teen Network will celebrate Rep. Patricia Haynes Smith and her work by presenting the 2019 Spirit of Service award at our national conference on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, during the awards luncheon at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.