Our Team

Coach Smith, a Granville County Native, was raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  As a young African American  girl, growing up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina had its own difficulties. Despite those difficulties, Founder, Jamella Smith relied on the assistance of organizations such as Volunteers For Youth (Carrboro, Nc) and Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocacy Program (Chapel Hill, NC) to provide the same, if not better opportunities than kids of families with better socioeconomic status. These opportunities included, trips, girl groups, college tours,  and even a scholarship. She attended Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for 12 years. It was here where she helped lead her high-school basketball team on an amazing State Championship run in 2014. After high-school, Smith went on to play division 1 basketball at South Carolina State, transferred to Pensacola State and finished up her collegiate career at THE Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Smith graduated with honors, earning her Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Pre-Law. In 2021 She began her non-profit career at Volunteers For Youth. Now in the year 2024, Coach Smith has founded her own NONPROFIT, based off the principles of scholarship, service, and support. She has a vision  to empower underserved youth by providing a platform that combines scholarship, resources, athletics and opportunities. We strive to create a welcoming space where young individuals can access valuable knowledge, tools, and support to excel in their personal, academic, and athletic endeavors. Through our service, we aim to inspire and uplift the next generation, fostering a community that values education, growth, and inclusivity.