Stephanie Smith
Office
Running for House of Delegates, Maryland, District 45 (2018)
Biography
Early Years
Stephanie is a native of Virginia Beach, VA and the middle of three children raised by a single mother. While financial resources were often limited, Stephanie’s family instilled in her a passion for faith, education and community.
As a student at Hampton University, Stephanie majored in political science with an eye towards law school. Concerned about human and civil rights, Stephanie was a founding member of the campus Amnesty International Chapter and active in the Women’s Caucus.
Before pursuing graduate or law school, Stephanie decided to become an AmeriCorps VISTA. With great role models in her family and community, Stephanie sought to be an advocate and resource for other young people. Serving as a mentor administrator at a Delaware public high school, Stephanie established a mentoring program for future first-generation college students. Because Stephanie was the first in her own immediate family to complete a college degree, she could personally identify with her mentees’ anxieties and challenges about navigating the college admissions process.
State Policy-making
After AmeriCorps, Stephanie earned a Masters in Urban Affairs and Public Policy with a concentration in Urban and Regional Planning Policy from the University of Delaware. Working with the Delaware State Housing Authority, Stephanie authored a whitepaper that laid the foundation for a state law allowing residents of manufactured housing communities the opportunity to establish community cooperatives. Due to Delaware’s ongoing challenges around clean air and legacy industrial pollution, Stephanie expanded her concerns around housing affordability to include the impacts of environmental degradation and public transportation access. Later enrolling at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., Stephanie served as the campus American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Chapter President, 3L Class President and participated in the Fair Housing and Environmental Justice Clinics.
Federal Policy-making
After law school graduation, Stephanie was selected to be a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow. While working for a Member of Congress, Stephanie handled a legislative portfolio covering affordable housing, labor, women’s issues, and the environment. Arriving on the Hill in the midst of the foreclosure crisis and the development of the Affordable Care Act, Stephanie worked to secure resources for struggling homeowners and protections for family planning resources.
Eager to focus her policy expertise, Stephanie later joined the staff of Earthjustice, the nation’s largest nonprofit environmental law firm. As a federal clean air advocate, Stephanie fought for stronger air quality standards to benefit the Baltimore-Washington region.
Working Towards a Better Baltimore
The Smiths are proud to call the 45th District and Baltimore City home. Nearly a decade ago, Stephanie and her husband Calvin purchased their first home in the Waltherson community in Northeast Baltimore. They were later joined by a dog Hendricks, Stephanie’s mother Kathleen and their son Parker. The Smith family currently resides in the Middle East community.
By day, Stephanie serves as an Assistant Director in the City of Baltimore, Department of Planning focusing on Equity, Engagement and Communications. Committed to building a more equitable Baltimore for all residents, Stephanie currently serves on the City’s Community Relations Commission. Stephanie has also served on the executive boards of the Maryland-DC Audubon Society, the Greater Baltimore Health Improvement Initiative and the Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (Baltimore Urban League Young Professionals Auxiliary).
Each day, Stephanie wakes up excited and motivated to take her community leadership to the next level in her beloved Baltimore.
Source: Elect Stephanie Smith.com
Priorities
Economy
Hardworking men and women across the 45th District deserve a living wage and paid sick leave. The formerly incarcerated, having already paid their debts to society, still face barriers to steady employment and stand in need of a second chance. We must work to build an inclusive economic model that lifts up our entire District.
Living Wage
In July 2018, Maryland will increase its minimum wage to $10.10. Unfortunately, this increase is still out of pace with the cost of living in Baltimore City. Workers at or near minimum wage provide childcare, medical care and support to some of our most vulnerable populations. Stephanie will fight for: (1) An increase in the state minimum wage to support workers we count on to take care our of our seniors, disabled and children; and (2) Legislative efforts to gradually raise the Maryland minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2023. Workers are also customers. Increased local buying power will also benefit other local businesses.
Reentry Hiring Incentives and Programming
Maryland and only five other states provide tax credits for employers that hire individuals with felony records. We must review how to strengthen this program to expand economic opportunity for our neighbors. Stephanie supports: State procurement preference for businesses that employ workers with criminal records.
Baltimore residents comprise over 1/3 of Maryland’s prison admissions while only making up 10% of the state’s population. This means we need to pay close attention to systems that support the formerly incarcerated in turning their lives around. Stephanie supports: Regular reporting on the impact of existing reentry programs so Maryland can prioritize investments in programs that work.
Education
Stephanie will work with stakeholders from all levels of government to get our children the resources they need. In Annapolis, it is critical that we have a delegation that inspires faith in Baltimore City’s efforts to update our school infrastructure, innovate instruction and advance opportunity for all children. Stephanie supports a school funding model that takes racial equity into the evaluation criteria.
School Infrastructure
While the crisis of Baltimore City’s school infrastructure gained national attention in early 2018, these challenges to providing a proper work and learning environment are not new. In fact, only 17% of City schools were deemed in “good” condition based on a recent 21st Century Schools report.
Stephanie will fight to update structural impediments to Baltimore receiving and deploying capital dollars from the state. Our kids deserve state and local infrastructure programs that center student safety and success.
Universal Pre-K
Stephanie knows a strong start is critical to cultivating life long learners. Families ineligible for free preschool programs may still find the costs of a private provider too burdensome.
Stephanie supports raising family income limits to increase access to affordable and high quality Pre-K.
Public Safety
Stephanie knows supporting policies that reduce poverty and improve education for our youth is fundamental to improving public safety. That’s why she’ll advocate for youth engagement funding as well as improved training/resources for community-led efforts to reduce crime.
Disconnected or Opportunity Youth (defined as young people ages 16-24 who are not enrolled in school or employed) are more likely to live in poverty, have limited social bonds and are vulnerable to the temptations of crime. Creating an environment where Opportunity Youth can reconnect is essential to improving community safety and well-being.
Stephanie supports:(1) Increasing state funding for localities to scale evidence-based violence interruption programs like “Safe Streets“; (2) Right sizing Baltimore police precinct boundaries to current population needs; (3) Establishing a state fund for programs that target employment and education pathways for Opportunity Youth (4) Establishing tax incentives and state procurement preference for companies that hire and support the development of Opportunity Youth.
Source: Pamela Queen.com
Stephanie Smith
...
Office
Running for House of Delegates, Maryland, District 45 (2018)
Biography
Early Years
Stephanie is a native of Virginia Beach, VA and the middle of three children raised by a single mother. While financial resources were often limited, Stephanie’s family instilled in her a passion for faith, education and community.
As a student at Hampton University, Stephanie majored in political science with an eye towards law school. Concerned about human and civil rights, Stephanie was a founding member of the campus Amnesty International Chapter and active in the Women’s Caucus.
Before pursuing graduate or law school, Stephanie decided to become an AmeriCorps VISTA. With great role models in her family and community, Stephanie sought to be an advocate and resource for other young people. Serving as a mentor administrator at a Delaware public high school, Stephanie established a mentoring program for future first-generation college students. Because Stephanie was the first in her own immediate family to complete a college degree, she could personally identify with her mentees’ anxieties and challenges about navigating the college admissions process.
State Policy-making
After AmeriCorps, Stephanie earned a Masters in Urban Affairs and Public Policy with a concentration in Urban and Regional Planning Policy from the University of Delaware. Working with the Delaware State Housing Authority, Stephanie authored a whitepaper that laid the foundation for a state law allowing residents of manufactured housing communities the opportunity to establish community cooperatives. Due to Delaware’s ongoing challenges around clean air and legacy industrial pollution, Stephanie expanded her concerns around housing affordability to include the impacts of environmental degradation and public transportation access. Later enrolling at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., Stephanie served as the campus American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Chapter President, 3L Class President and participated in the Fair Housing and Environmental Justice Clinics.
Federal Policy-making
After law school graduation, Stephanie was selected to be a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow. While working for a Member of Congress, Stephanie handled a legislative portfolio covering affordable housing, labor, women’s issues, and the environment. Arriving on the Hill in the midst of the foreclosure crisis and the development of the Affordable Care Act, Stephanie worked to secure resources for struggling homeowners and protections for family planning resources.
Eager to focus her policy expertise, Stephanie later joined the staff of Earthjustice, the nation’s largest nonprofit environmental law firm. As a federal clean air advocate, Stephanie fought for stronger air quality standards to benefit the Baltimore-Washington region.
Working Towards a Better Baltimore
The Smiths are proud to call the 45th District and Baltimore City home. Nearly a decade ago, Stephanie and her husband Calvin purchased their first home in the Waltherson community in Northeast Baltimore. They were later joined by a dog Hendricks, Stephanie’s mother Kathleen and their son Parker. The Smith family currently resides in the Middle East community.
By day, Stephanie serves as an Assistant Director in the City of Baltimore, Department of Planning focusing on Equity, Engagement and Communications. Committed to building a more equitable Baltimore for all residents, Stephanie currently serves on the City’s Community Relations Commission. Stephanie has also served on the executive boards of the Maryland-DC Audubon Society, the Greater Baltimore Health Improvement Initiative and the Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (Baltimore Urban League Young Professionals Auxiliary).
Each day, Stephanie wakes up excited and motivated to take her community leadership to the next level in her beloved Baltimore.
Source: Elect Stephanie Smith.com
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Priorities
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Social