Considered one of the many "NABJ babies" out there, Patrick's introduction to the organization came in the form of an internship, which he accepted and fulfilled during his senior year at Morehouse College. After graduating cum laude in 1992, he continued to work closely with the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (AABJ) and NABJ as Deputy Director of the southeast's Region IV. During this time, he received several professional and community awards from the local chapter and the region. As AABJ's Vice President-Broadcast, Patrick worked on the committee that organized UNITY '94 in Atlanta.

Professionally, CNBC would take notice of the young journalist and inspire him to make a move to the New York City area in 1995. This move would prove critical as it opened Patrick up to a freelance world of field producing, interviewing, entertainment writing, and on-air/voice work. The outlets include: HBO, INEXTV.COM, CROSSWALKS TV, BET, BET WEEKEND, SAVOY, THE ACAPULCO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL, THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW, LEVI'S, and WNBC-TV in New York.

In August 2001, he completed a successful term on NABJ's Board of Directors. As head of Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania), he helped mobilize the enthusiasm of the three states' members via two profit-generating regional conferences (Brooklyn and Pittsburgh) and other well-received initiatives. His idea to throw a "birthday benefit" in November 1999 proved a creative way to raise money for kids to study journalism (over $5,000); those funds were handed out to two NYABJ High School Journalism Workshop graduates at the Brooklyn joint conference. Patrick remains chairman of NABJ's Arts & Entertainment Task Force.

Alongside the national and regional work, there has been NYABJ and The Garden State Association of Black Journalists, both of which awarded Patrick a professional nod for his NBC 4 series on "THE 60s". He served two terms as NYABJ's vice president-broadcast, and on several of the chapter's committees, including the annual dinner committee. Still, he has found working with the area's high school students in the NYABJ journalism workshop to be the most fulfilling aspect of his local chapter experience. Though his professional schedule keeps him busier than ever these days, he still makes time for NYABJ, a commitment he says will never die.