About
Cathy Smith
Nice to meet you! With 3 decades of co-leading the engagement services of a multidisciplinary consulting firm, I’ve returned to the land of sole proprietorship to focus on finding what we have in common as a counterpoint to division and isolation and enhance appreciation for each other and this world. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in English and the University of San Diego School of Law. I’m certified by IAP2 as a Certified Public Participation Practitioner (CP3). Currently, I’m serving on the board of the IAP2 where I work with colleagues across the world on best practices for community engagement and am a member of San Diego Writer's Ink. With my husband, I live in San Diego where I was raised and am fortunate to be nearby other family. We hope to have our third dog in the not-too-distant future; we think Pico and Ramen would approve.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I wish you and your community a good journey. Thank you for considering me to help you with it or to connect you with a trusted colleague who can.
The Story Of This Arc
The story arc is built into my "doing business as" name because it is about the journey people make to change an existing situation into a better, new reality. There’s a magic in that arc...in that journey.
For that magic, the arc is represented as the first “o” of “In Common,” to express my intent to help us see ourselves in each other’s stories and build a shared one, so we can grow our appreciation of each other and the world we share, solve problems, and make needed change together. The arc’s openness also expresses that there’s room at the table to join in. Its sunny color is about the brighter horizons we can create together.
I’d like to thank designer Noell Cain who helped me visualize these concepts so fundamental to the contribution I seek to make through this next chapter in my career. If you’d like to know more about her work, visit noellcain.com.