By Stealth

The Community Citizen Awareness Project had the honor of interviewing a woman who is making a difference in a large community. Patty Gordon, a Metropolitan State Alumni, is making an impact on the deaf community.

Patty is an American Sign Language interpreter and in 2004 was the Minnesota Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf's outstanding member. She was also honored by former First Lady Mary Pawlenty as a Notable Woman of Minnesota in 2007.

We were able to meet up with Patty one evening at a local coffee shop and chat over a cup of decaf coffee. Patty explained how the nature of her career allows her to be involved and make changes within the deaf community. As an interpreter Patty explains, "I am one of those people that is helping make people access each other."

Patty helps facilitate communication that otherwise would not be there. "It is one of those vicarious things that through my job is part of it. People make connections and get to know and understand each other because I happen to be there. So that is my stealth community service."

Although Patty says a lot of her community involvement is by stealth and is just part of her job, she is also doing a lot more. Patty is a founding director of Story Blend. It is an immersion program that helps newly certified ASL interpreters build relationships and connections within the deaf community through deaf mentors. 

Patty's involvement within the deaf community has opened up many doors and brought awareness to people outside the deaf community as well. To read more about what Patty does and her involvement in the community go here.