An entrepreneur with his own lawn-service business, James Patterson always is willing to turn his hand to whatever task needs to be done, whether it is a small repair job for an elderly neighbor, keeping an eye on a nearby NHS apartment building, or coordinating volunteers for NeighborWorks ® Week or other civic activities. He is a dynamo whose energy and enthusiasm easily draw others into roles as resident leaders.

Patterson has been involved actively with NHS for eight years, first as a committee volunteer and, for the last four, as a member of the board of directors. Currently, he also is a member of the loan committee and chair of the volunteer committee.

Prior to his involvement with NHS, Patterson was active in Operation Pride, a community organization, serving as its president for four years and a board member for eight. During the years he was president, Operation Pride partnered with NHS in demolition of dilapidated apartment buildings that were then replaced with new units developed by NHS.

Patterson's activism goes far beyond his role as a resident leader with NHS. He was a scout master for the Boy Scouts for 12 years. He served on the board of Christmas in April for four years. He was a member of the Enterprise Zone Commission board for two years. He worked with the Weed and Seed program for two years. He is a member of the #1 usher board of the Mt. Hebron Baptist Church.

Quietly, without fanfare, Patterson also serves his neighbors, helping with small repair jobs, advocating responsibly for them as a member of the NHS loan committee, and representing the community at city planning and council meetings.

James Patterson is a man who makes a difference, a noble heir to Dorothy Richardson's legacy.