Allow us to introduce you to the first female to receive the “Distinguished Inventor Award” for holding 14 patents…Barbara Metz. And that didn’t even have anything to do with why she was nominated and chosen as one of 2013’s “20 Outstanding Women!”
Barb is retired from Battelle Memorial Institute and was nominated for her work as a House Lead for Women Build – all part of Habitat for Humanity. The longevity of the work stems from her passion to continue to build “affordable housing for women, by women, to empower women!”
According to the Habitat for Humanity Greater Columbus newsletter, Metz has led Women Build in the constructing of seven Habitat for Humanity homes. On past builds, she said men have assisted in some efforts: “We try to keep the build days limited to just women, as they sometimes feel intimidated if men are doing the instructing. One of the purposes of WB is to empower women and teach them new skills in a non-intimidating environment.” As House Lead, Metz has multiple goals for this new build: “My aspirations are that we can build the house safely, learn something each time we get together, teach something each time we get together, make new friends, be able to laugh at ourselves when necessary, and provide a decent home for a family in need.”
Building a new home as part of Habitat for Humanity is no small task, but Barb is always up to the challenge. A Habitat volunteer for 15 years, Metz became involved on her first build by showing up at a house site on Saturday morning. “That day we were installing chain link fences,” she said. “A very helpful volunteer showed me what to do, and I was hooked.” Metz served as co-house lead with three other women on Women Build’s sixth house in 2005: “Unfortunately for me and for Habitat for Humanity-Greater Columbus, they have all moved away. So I was left holding the ‘bag of nails,’ as they say.”
The best advice Barbara ever received was “in the face of adversity, don’t ever give up” and she would tell others, “make someone’s day brighter by a smile or kind word. It costs you nothing but can bring them real joy.” Barbara believes character is how you treat someone who can do nothing for you.
Anyone interested in participating can contact womanbuild@habitat-columbus.org.