SHARON SMITH
Leadership Development Coordinator
Sharon Smith, serving as the Leadership Development Coordinator for the Journey for Justice Alliance, brings over two decades of expertise as a seasoned community organizer and partnerships manager. Her proficiencies encompass diverse areas including new program formulation, training initiatives, fostering community alliances, outreach endeavors, and robust community engagement strategies. Sharon possesses a proven track record in development and strategic planning within the realms of youth empowerment, social services, and education sectors. Her adeptness lies in collaborating with community leadership nationwide to execute strategic blueprints aligned with organizational missions and visions.
In her capacity as the Leadership Development Coordinator, Sharon orchestrates and facilitates comprehensive training sessions tailored for member organizations and partners, focusing on sustainable community schools and fostering leadership among parents and students.
A mother of five, Sharon’s personal journey intertwines with her professional pursuits. Her children, who received education from both public and charter schools in Newark, NJ, propelled her into the role of a fervent parent advocate. Within her local school community and across district boundaries, Sharon championed tirelessly for equity in educational opportunities for all children. This advocacy led to her co-founding of Parents Unified for Local School Education (PULSE), a platform aimed at mobilizing parents for strategic dialogues on school improvement initiatives.
Through her stewardship at PULSE, Sharon established PULSENJ, a dynamic New Jersey network within the WeChoose Campaign, fostering collaboration among statewide leaders to advocate for comprehensive educational reforms. Sharon’s ethos revolves around the belief that lasting transformations within communities stem from amplifying the voices of stakeholders. She envisions nurturing vibrant, empowered communities instilled with a profound sense of pride and unity, where every individual’s concerns are heard and addressed.