Our Board | Youth Council | Shawna Smith

Shawna Smith is the Executive Director for Taller San Jose. Her association to Taller goes back to 1998 when she first joined the non-profit group as a program administrator. She holds a strong interest in serving previously incarcerated youth and believes in the power of workforce training as a vehicle to provide opportunities for rehabilitation.  Ms. Smith believes that providing youth with vocational skills and showing them how to become good employees help youth become productive and self-reliant community members.  Ms. Smith has 10-plus years working with at-risk and disadvantaged youth and extensive experience as an adult mentor.  As the Executive Director, she provides the leadership for the organization’s strategic goals, mission, and values.  In addition, she ensures that quality programming is offered at Taller San Jose. Her education credentials include Bachelor of Arts in English from Santa Clara University and a certificate as a Certified Mediator from the Institute for Conflict Management. From the years 2002 – 2006 Ms. Smith worked as a Jesuit Volunteer and served on the board of the directors for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.