We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful PAT AVERHART. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with PAT below.

Hi PAT, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

The summer of 2020, and the pandemic in its entirety. It showed me that the institutions designed to help and benefit the people simply could not and ultimately failed to do so. That was the fuel used for my work in the community and within the realm of mutual aid.

PAT, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Im Patrick Averhart. Born and raised here in Dallas,TX (Oak Cliff and Pleasant Grove to be specific). Most of my working adult life I spent in the retail industry and the music business working for a variety of companies. During and post pandemic I co founded a community organization that does mutual aid work called the United Peoples Coalition. We serve the most plighted parts of Dallas with on the ground programming and community engagement. In 2022 I was hired on at Big Thought as a program coordinator which propelled my work into the youth serving space. A year later in 2023 I was added to the wonderful CPAL (Child Poverty Action Lab) team as Director Of Neighborhood Insights, which allows me to collaborate with a plethora of community and placed based organizations all throughout the region.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Actually caring about the current conditions of humankind .

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Consistency within the community. Consistency builds trust, trust turns into reputability.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unitedpeoplescoalotion.org
• Instagram: p.a.tsince88
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-averhart-0b4a6421/