A passionate leader, coach, mentor, and educator, Tamika Smith has dedicated her career to serving students in marginalized communities. She is the Executive Director of Urban Alliance Greater Washington D.C., a non-profit headquartered in Washington, D.C. building a diverse next-generation workforce by providing job skills training, mentoring, pre-apprenticeships and paid internships to high school youth and young adults from underserved communities so that they may live a life of economic independence and upward mobility. Working with key partners including Bank of America, Deloitte, USPTO, DHS, US Chamber, and the Smithsonian Institution, Urban Alliance Greater Washington D.C. annually serves more than 200 students in 11th and 12th grades in D.C., Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Northern Virginia.
Smith is committed to strategically creating a sustainable pipeline of robust career experiences and opportunities for underrepresented students. For nearly 20 years, she has led college/career access, workforce development, and academic programming for students across the country.
Her career began in the non-profit sector where she provided academic and mental health services to build partnerships with community stakeholders in support of families and students throughout Maryland. That role led to teaching in at-risk schools and serving in leadership roles to elevate the impact of equity and family engagement for student success. From curriculum development to launching mentorship and college access programming, Smith has advanced the academic agenda for underrepresented students. After leaving the classroom, she worked at the University of Maryland for nearly 10 years, where she focused on closing the minority achievement gap, eradicating systemic barriers and providing equitable opportunities for students, families, and educators across the country.
Through the development of culturally relevant teaching pedagogy curriculum, national professional development opportunities, and workforce development programming, she has served over 5,000 students and families.