Breylon Smith will begin as the Executive Director of Urban Alliance Greater DC in October 2025, where he will lead the organization’s flagship region to expand economic mobility and workforce opportunities for young people across Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. A mission-driven leader, he brings more than 15 years of experience in education, youth development, partnerships, and strategy, with a career dedicated to creating pathways of access, opportunity, and equity for historically underserved communities.
Prior to joining Urban Alliance, Breylon served as Director of Partnerships at Thrive Scholars, managing a national portfolio of institutional partners and driving a 22% increase in program reach. He also served as Director of High School Placement and Alumni Programs at Higher Achievement, overseeing programming across 14 sites in four regions and strengthening mentoring quality while aligning outcomes across the organization. Prior to this, Breylon led as the Learning Director for the Ward 6 Center at Eliot-Hine Middle School for six years after beginning with the Ward 8 Center at Achievement Prep as the Assistant Center Director.
Through his consulting firm, Be Better Consulting, LLC, Breylon has supported school districts, nonprofits, and government agencies with youth-centered strategies. He has designed and facilitated trainings for practitioners and mentors, and partnered on initiatives with organizations such as MENTOR National, MENTOR MD|DC, UNCF, JPMorgan Chase, and Fidelity Investments. His expertise spans program design, institutional partnerships, technical assistance, and workforce development systems.
Breylon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Middle Grades Education and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University, along with a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Higher Achievement (DC Metro) and as Fundraising Chair for the GovCon Committee of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.
A proud husband, father, and man of faith, Breylon finds joy in small moments, strong coffee, and supporting others to lead with purpose. His leadership is anchored in authenticity, stewardship, and collaboration—values that continue to shape his commitment to youth empowerment and community impact.