10 QUESTIONS
1 Congratulations on Frontdoors turning 20!
{ fascinating people }
What does this milestone mean to you? My first thought is, “Wait. Twenty years? Where did the time go? Am I really 20 years older?
2 Why did you start Frontdoors? I felt there was a tremendous amount of community bashing. As a third-generation Phoenician and having a child that was now fourth generation, I wanted to connect the amazing stories to the community that could impact great and meaningful change. It was a privilege and sacred trust to be a conduit in this manner.
3 Where did the name come from? I drew an imaginary circle around Camelback Mountain and determined that my publication would get to the front door of every home. I meandered down to the U.S. Postmaster General, who at the time lived in Arcadia, and told him about my dream. His team worked with me to launch a trial program where our publication was put in all of the post office trucks and distributed to each and every mailbox in my giant circle. It was brave … on both of our parts!
4 Out of all of the interviews you’ve done for the magazine, does one stand out? Steve Zabilski, the fantastic leader of St. Vincent de Paul. I was interviewing him at one of his shelters and he stopped the interview to connect with a homeless man in distress. I saw the face of compassion, service and leadership in the moment where there was so much crisis. It truly impacted me and will forever be a model of how I want to lead my life.
JULIA C. PATRICK CEO of the American Nonprofit Academy, co-host of ‘The Nonprofit Show’ and founder and original publisher of Frontdoors FEBRUARY 2022
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FRONTDOORS MEDIA
5 Who do you wish you’d been able to get on the cover but couldn’t? Easy. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor when she retired from the bench. I wanted the cover to read … “Welcome Home, Sandy.” To old Arizona, that was how she was called. She remains my beacon on what an Arizona girl can achieve.
6 Odd things happen at photoshoots. Tell us about one. One of the best was during a cover shoot of Gov. Janet Napolitano. I was to interview her after the photographer was done. I had the bad habit of writing my cover stories from memory. My staff was appalled and purchased a small recorder for the interview. They told me I had to at least make a show of turning it
