Shonda Smith is thrilled to join the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) as its first Events Director. In this role, she will develop and lead the execution of a wide range of impactful events both locally and nationally.
Shonda brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned professional with in-depth leadership expertise in positioning nonprofits for sustainable growth and success. Her unique blend of skills in event management, fundraising, public relations, content development, and brand-building has led her to powerhouse organizations such as the Harlem Children’s Zone, Girl Scouts of the USA, MADRE, Innocence Project, and now, ASJ.
Her portfolio includes managing major Girl Scout conferences and conventions, and convening experts for thought-provoking discussions at the Innocence Project on topics like prosecutorial accountability in the U.S. legal system. At the Harlem Children’s Zone, Shonda hosted young journalists in Little Rock, Arkansas, for a launch event that produced a replication of the Harlem Overheard newspaper. Throughout her career, she has seamlessly cultivated a number of relationships and has worked closely with celebrities and prominent activists dedicated to championing and mobilizing underserved communities impacted by racial and socioeconomic injustices.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Shonda is the daughter of parents who migrated to the U.S. from the Caribbean. She earned a BA in journalism from SUNY College at New Paltz and an MS in publishing from New York University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her loving and spirited family, listening to live music, dancing, singing karaoke, playing highly competitive games of Scrabble and Spades, curling up with a riveting memoir, and amplifying the stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things.
Beyond her energetic personality, what matters most to Shonda is shaping a more just world through action and authenticity and finding joy in hysterical laughter as often as possible.
