Equality Florida CEO to Talk on Oct. 16

Nadine Smith, co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida, will speak on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values on The University of Tampa campus, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Smith’s presentation is free and open to the public.

Smith, who was recently named one of the state's "Most Powerful and Influential Women" by the Florida Diversity Council, will discuss the public speaking skills she employed while leading the fight for human equality in Florida.

An award-winning journalist turned organizer, Smith was one of four national co-chairs of the 1993 March on Washington. She was part of the historic Oval Office meeting between then-President Clinton and gay community leaders, and served on President Obama's National Finance Committee. Smith served on the founding board of the International Gay and Lesbian Youth Organization, and is a Florida Chamber Foundation trustee and a board member for Green Florida.

In 1997, Smith co-founded Equality Florida, which is the state's largest organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The presentation is sponsored by UT’s Center for Public Speaking and the Department of Speech, Theatre and Dance.