Ladies & Gentlemen — Jacob Smith: Skidmore Class ‘24, English major, with a Theater minor, and a good smattering of interests in journalism, film, yoga, fashion, meditation, … and friends. As a Spoken Word artist, this NYC native is no stranger to using words to connect, as evidenced in last spring’s powerful “Uplift” performance during Skidmore’s Springfest Theater event, which resulted in a special *BIPOC Affinity Night on campus for faculty and students. The stand-out feature about Smith and his words is the intentional action he threads through them: action before his words, action under his words, action continuing even after his words have been propelled out into the public. Case in point: Saratoga Springs’ Frederick Allen Elks Lodge #609.

Last fall, Smith expanded on an initial ‘call-to-action’ email — seeking donations to help with some challenges faced by the Lodge — by researching, writing, and then publishing an article for the campus’ Skidmore News. “One of Saratoga’s Last Historically Black Organizations in Danger of Vanishing” created greater awareness tied to an actionable path that other Skidmore students could use to understand the BIPOC community better here in Saratoga, which in turn, generated interest and desire among Skidmore’s community to contribute to this worthy, critical cause. Smith’s outreach to the Lodge for interviews and his subsequent article became part of a chain reaction that necessitated the launching of a GoFundMe Campaign, which then sparked regional news attention … which brought greater awareness tied to an actionable path forward for others to … you can see how this kind of vision and effort builds!

And THAT is Change Leadership — the kind of leadership that is generated from a perspective broader than the original momentary “ask"; the kind of leadership that creates multiple access points for others to join the effort, the movement, the mission. And it’s the kind of Change Leadership that uses each moment to build (or sometimes re-build) bridges that strengthen, connect, and nourish beyond the initial focus. In a recent article by Spectrum News 1 on the Lodge, Smith shared, “It’s a nice feeling to know that there is a community outside my friends or the organizations within Skidmore, something in the community where I can come and feel welcomed.”

A brilliant and creative young voice, Jacob Smith is leading Today by preserving Yesterday’s legacy, while building Tomorrow’s promise into a reality … and mobilizing us all through greater awareness and action! Excited to see what other pathways Mr. Smith illuminates for us in the future — we’ll do our best to keep you posted!

RESOURCES:

“One of Saratoga’s Last Historically Black Organizations in Danger of Vanishing” (Jacob Smith, Skidmore News, Nov. 2021)

Frederick Allen Lodge #609: www.frederickallenlodge.org

GoFundMe Campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-lodge-save-saratogas-soul

‘Black Elks Lodge’ looks to save its Saratoga Springs home (Jaclyn Cangro, Spectrum News 1, Feb.11, 2022)

SPRINGFEST WEEKEND TWO: WRAP-UP — UPlift (Eliza Kuperschmid ‘21 and Gemma Siegler ‘22, Skidmore Theater Living Newsletter, May 7, 2022)
*”Skidmore is a predominantly white institution located in Saratoga Spring, New York, a town that, according to the most recent U.S. census, is made up of 89.7% white individuals, 3.69% Asian individuals, 1.95% Black individuals, and 0.119% Indigenous individuals, a category so small that it does not even show up on the census’s pie chart. There are very few, if any at all, spaces for BIPOC individuals on Skidmore’s campus and in the larger Saratoga community. This moment and this space were necessary.”