Kenya J.H. Smith

Grandson of a teacher born and buried in the town of Lafitte in Jefferson Parish, son of a retired Baptist minister from St. Tammany Parish and a school teacher from Uptown New Orleans, Kenya grew up in a Gentilly household valuing faith, hard work, and commitment which has guided his work towards the full recovery and brighter future of this regional community.

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Young Leader

Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from
Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO)
Food & Commercial Workers Local 210
Office of U.S. Senator John Breaux
Chair of Louisiana Council of Student Body Presidents
American Bar Association House of Delegates
Juris Doctorate, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Prepared Professional

Adams & Reese, LLP
American Bar Association
National Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Louis A. Martinet Legal Society
New Orleans Bar Association
Board of Directors the American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana
Young Leadership Council (YLC) of Greater New Orleans leading initiatives in entrepreneurship & diversity

Dedicated Public Servant

Executive Counsel to the Mayor of the City of New Orleans
Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the City of New Orleans, leading the city’s team to develop critical federal legislation to provide emergency funding, as well as, long-term recovery funding in areas of: levees and hurricane protection systems, housing, infrastructure, public safety & economic development.