Detroit-Shoreway | Youth/Families
Brittney Smith is a proud Clevelander, born and raised in the inner-city. With her upbringing and love for positive community change and youth advocacy, she founded an organization dedicated to the development of young black girls from Cleveland called Positively Empowering and Restoring Ladies Self-Esteem (PEARLS), Inc., a mentoring group that services girls ages 11-17 years old. Through her organization and alongside community partners, Brittney launched the PEARLS Girls Community Closet, a thrift store that offers free gently used clothing and hygiene products to girls and women. In addition, through partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, she replicated this service inside of three schools within the community as “mini-closets” serving over 2000 people with an inclusive, wraparound approach to service. Brittney has received the Neighborhood Improvement Award from Northwest Neighborhoods CDC and also received recognition from the State of Ohio House of Representatives for her work with PEARLS. Brittney received her Bachelors in Social Work from Cleveland State University and a Professional Certification in Family Development from The University of Connecticut.
