Angela Patton

Business leader, Change Agent, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Event planner, Life mentor, Parent, Public servant, Student

Tragedies are always difficult to overcome, but for Angela Patton they can be used as an inspiration to pursue endeavors that positively impact the community. When Diva Mistadi Smith-Roane, the 5-year-old daughter of Patton's friend, lost her life through the careless use of a firearm accident in 2004, Patton saw an opportunity to develop a program that mission was to provide a summer camp where girls, between the ages of 11 to 17, could be safe and instill in them principles that would adequately prepare them for a healthy womanhood. She decided to name it Camp Diva in memory of Diva. Since its inception, Camp Diva has since expanded to offer after-school programs, conferences and additional programs and services. The aim is to empower at-risk girls of African-descent to whom she refers to as "at-promise". In 2011 Angela became part of the Girls for a Change staff and is currently running GFC Richmond programs. Trained as a licensed practical nurse and a doula Patton has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years. Angela serves as the director of Camp Diva, completing her BS degree in Business Administration from ECPI University and her certification in Non-profit Management. Angela has gained respect of the Richmond community. Among her awards, she has received Virginians Making a Difference, Style Weekly Top 40 under 40, The Cultural and Leadership Award and was selected as one of seventy five 2012 Opportunity Collaboration Cordes. Angela had the honor of participating and delivering her first TED TALK at the TEDxWomen Conference, The Space Between located inside of Washington DC's beautiful and inspirational United States Institute of Peace, December 2012. Camp Diva has partnered with Girls For A Change, one of the nation's top girl-centered organizations, to offer after school programs that focus on social change projects. Now, the two organizations will form a new relationship as Girls For A Change (GFC) and has named Camp Diva Founder and Director, Angela Patton, as its new CEO, September 2013. Separately, we are dynamic. Combined, we will be unimaginable, said Patton. Angela has accepted the invitation to participate as a panelist at TEDWomen 2013 Conference in San Francisco, CA.

A New Approach to Building A Woman ... One Girl At A Time !

Speaker - motivation, Youth Development and Non Profit Service