Life & Work with Candace Smith-Moon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Smith-Moon.

Hi Candace, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My involvement in community service started at a very early age. I have always been interested in serving and advocating for underserved and under-educated constituents in Atlanta. I started with meal distribution holiday events ranging from Hosea Feeds the Hungry to Atlanta Mission. I can honestly say this made me want to do more. I began to support clothing drives. I became a mentor in literacy programs and after-school programs. Today, I am a board member of:

– Aiden’s Wagon is a non-profit organization that is committed to enriching the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders.

– Atlanta Victim Assistance, Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to advocate and provide services to victims of crimes. AVA advocates for the fundamental rights of victims of crime with compassion, dignity, and respect. AVA provides comprehensive services which remove barriers, strengthen victims and their families, and foster a healthy transition from victim to survivor.

I was selected to be a volunteer member of the 2022 Fulton County District Attorney’s Courtwatch program. This is a particularly rewarding role because I get a chance to see the logistics behind the court system and understand the justice system in a better light.

I am employed by Lifelink of Georgia an organ procurement organization, as an Education Specialist in the Multicultural Donation Education Program. As an Education Specialist, I facilitate speaking engagements and health awareness events on the importance of minorities registering to be post-life organ donors.

As a community member, we all should find a way to pour back into the community that poured into us.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We all know that with success there comes failure or challenges, on the road to what we perceive as success. I have experienced challenges throughout my career. I did not realize what my true purpose was until several years ago. I spent the bulk of my career in Corporate America, striving to make the most money and have the highest rank. I realized while those are fiscally rewarding, I was missing something. I decided to leave the corporate sector and work in my local municipality where I became the Community Affairs Manager for the City of Atlanta’s – Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services. This was especially rewarding to me because I grew up in Atlanta and I am a product of the Atlanta Public School System.

My role in this department allowed me to become more connected to the community in many different areas. The challenge was not being able to help everyone that needed help. There were times I would function as a Warming Shelter leader and one of my tasks would be to help assess the constituents and refer them for housing, medical resources, or assessments. If you have ever dealt with individuals experiencing homelessness you understand their circumstances can be vast and you should not judge them, nor can you save everyone.

Ultimately, the role as Community Affairs Manager allowed me to understand different demographics and how I could help and contribute as a member of the community.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an Education Specialist in the Multicultural Development Program at LifeLink of Georgia an Organ Procurement organization. I specialize in community health education in post-life organ donation specifically in the African-American community. As an Education Specialist, I discuss the deficit of post-life organ donors in the African-American community. I also discuss preventative measures we can take to prevent illnesses such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and High Cholesterol.

I am most proud of the community relationships and partnerships I have built, which have created an opportunity for me to educate more individuals and register them as organ donors. Many people do not realize that by becoming a registered donor post-life they could potentially save up to 7 lives.

My passion for helping others and consistently looking for ways to empower and educate others definitely sets me apart from others. I believe if you can help someone get to the next level and sustain their growth, you are truly making a difference.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family and friends who are an extension of my family) matter to me most. I have a very unique and diverse group of family members and friends. We are close and support each other in ways that many find different. While we are not always together, we understand that in times of need, the most important bond is ours. My friends are the same. I have a group of friends that I have been friends with for over 20 years. We share business ideas, life goals, and vacations. We support each other’s endeavors and provide tough love or brutally candid feedback when needed.

All in all, I consider myself very blessed to have the circle of support that I have. It is not perfect but it is mine and it works for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://anchor.fm/luna-moon92/support
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candace.smith.moon