Brittany V.Z. Smith, Deputy Director

Pronouns: She/Her

Brittany Smith was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, NY to an amazing single mom,  and who instilled the importance of faith, honesty, leadership and following one’s dreams.

While growing up, Brittany witnessed the challenges her family and community faced while reintegrating into society after incarceration and simply just being Black and Brown in America. It was this that inspired Brittany to be the change that she wants to see in the world.

In 2014, she started as a CNHJH intern through Berkeley College, mostly interested in the youth and juvenile justice initiatives. Her goal was to stay open minded, authentic, and to represent to the youth that she encountered what genuine love, care and support looks like from her own perspective. Her journey at the Center has been nothing short of extraordinary and today, Brittany is a mom of two kings, Israel and Trust, who are her daily motivation to keep hope alive. She currently brings her leadership as an all time connector in the official position of being the Program Manager at Center for Nuleadership on Human Justice & Healing. She manages the Center’s program development and strategy, outcome metric development and most importantly, making sure that Human Justice and Healing pedagogy runs through all that we create and do.

Brittany is committed to opening pathways for voices of color to be heard by the world at large, specifically young women of color.  Malcolm X said, “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” Brittany is fired up in her work to undo and fight this reality daily and be working at a place that shares her values and vision for reparations and community generational wealth.

She looks forward to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for herself, her loved ones and her community - the light she helped spark and brighten.