Never Quit winner is Rhode Island public service worker who likes to empower others

Stacy Smith is a problem solver, an inspiration, and someone who’s been “on the other side,” as she likes to put it.

But first and foremost, she is an eligibility technician for Rhode Island’s Department of Human Resources and a proud public service worker.

“Every day is a new adventure,” she says. “You never know who’s going to come through the door. You never know what the issue is that they may have. And until you do, you don’t know how to problem solve and work with them to overcome it.”

Smith helps people who are battling opioid addiction, homelessness or mental illness. She gets them help through other state agencies so they can begin to carve out a better path forward. She does her work with passion because she’s been “on the other side,” she says.

“I know what it’s like to walk through the door,” Smith says. “People don’t walk through our doors because they want to. People walk through because they have to. And we are going to fight the good fight for everyone.”

For her service to her community, Smith, a member of AFSCME Council 94, is a winner of our union’s Never Quit Service Award. The award recognizes public service workers who go above and beyond the call of duty to make their communities better.

Smith believes that by serving her community she has inspired her own son to serve his country. “My pride and joy!” she calls him.

But she also inspires the people she serves.

“The people that come into DHS are moms and dads,” she says. “They are grandparents. All walks of life, all races, all backgrounds. And when I get that mom that comes in, and I’m doing the interview, and maybe she’s doubting herself, I like to take those opportunities to remind her this is just a moment in time for her and she can change that at any time.”